The former president will be arraigned in court on Tuesday afternoon following his indictment in a grand jury investigation over hush money paid to a porn star. He is the first former US president to face criminal charges.
Trump is describing the investigation as a political witch hunt, and top supporters, including Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, say they will head to New York on Tuesday to protest. The downtown courthouse, home to criminal courts and supreme courts, will close some courtrooms ahead of Trump’s expected appearance, a court official said.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) said there were no credible threats to the city.
According to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors online extremism, some social media users have called for the execution of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the jury that indicted Trump.
After Trump falsely claimed to have won the last election, his supporters stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, sparking a deadly riot.
However, many Trump supporters online have expressed concern about public demonstrations even after Trump called for them, fearing they could be arrested.
“(The) department remains ready to respond if necessary and will ensure that everyone can exercise their rights peacefully,” the NYPD said in a statement.
Trump is expected to fly to New York from Florida on Monday and spend the night at Trump Tower before arriving at the courthouse early Tuesday morning, a Trump adviser said.
While the spectacle of the former president facing criminal charges would certainly attract massive media attention, it is not yet clear whether his performance would draw large numbers of protesters. Although Trump is a native New Yorker, he didn’t get many votes in his hometown — 23% of the city voted for him in 2020 and 18% in 2016.
The New York Young Republican Club says it is planning a protest in a park across the street from the courthouse, a demonstration that Greene, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in Congress, says he will attend.
“Protesting is a constitutional right,” Greene said on Twitter, adding that she would “protest this unprecedented abuse of our justice system and election interference.” She said she rejects anyone who incites or commits violence. Before voting to indict Trump, the grand jury heard evidence of a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she was paid to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006. Trump denies the sexual encounter.
A court official told Reuters that courtrooms on the higher floors of the courthouse will close at 1 p.m., shortly before Trump’s expected arraignment at 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT).
The official also said many trials will be adjourned in a building across the street from the courthouse.