Former President Donald Trump is facing possible indictment over a $130,000 hush money payment made in 2016 to adult film star Stormy Daniels, and as Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg moves closer to deciding if he will be charged, Trump has called on his supporters to protest his looming arrest.
Trump posted an all-caps statement on Truth Social, suggesting he will be arrested on Tuesday and calling his followers to "PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK! " The payment was allegedly made through Trump's former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in connection with the payments and was sentenced to three years in prison.
In response to Trump's post, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denounced Trump's "reckless" and "incitements to violence" while Rep. Eric Swalwell accused Trump of having the "goal of violence in his name ". Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy responded by calling for an "immediate" congressional probe into what he called a "politically motivated prosecution" by Bragg. Rep. Adam Schiff criticized McCarthy, accusing him of'shielding Trump from accountability' and "stirring the pot".
New York law enforcement officials have been preparing security ahead of a potential indictment against Trump, with the NYPD and the FBI giving attention to the possibility of threats against Bragg and his staff members.
Trump attended the NCAA Division I wrestling championship on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was greeted by a boisterous crowd and a loud, energetic welcome as he entered the BOK Center in a blue suit and red tie.
Trump’s legal advisers have instead been pushing for a remote appearance and have urged him to refrain from calling public protests, fearing a repeat of the Jan. At the US Capitol there were 6 riots - at the US Capitol.
Trump and his team are preparing to go to “political war” to impugn the credibility of Bragg, Cohen and Daniels. Many Republicans have come to Trump's defense, including his former vice president Mike Pence and McCarthy, while other Republicans such as the Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ohio Sen. J. D. Rapp. d. J. D. J. D. X. Vance expressed their support for him. Elon Musk even predicted that if Trump is indicted, he will be re-elected in a landslide victory if elected.
The Manhattan D.A.A. The Law Enforcement has declined to comment, and law enforcement is negotiating with the Secret Service about the terms and "logistics" of a possible arrest next week. Trump's call to action has alarmed some of his advisers who fear his rhetoric will grow increasingly incendiary as he feels cornered by prosecutors. Mary McCord, director of a Democracy Advocacy Center at Georgetown Law School, warned that Trump is whipping up extremists who could engage in violence.
As the legal drama unfolds, it remains to be seen if Trump will be indicted and what his repercussions will be.