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New York has put police officers on standby ahead of former President Donald Trump’s arraignment on criminal charges in the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
The city has stationed officers and put up steel barriers near the courthouse and Trump Tower, where Trump will stay Monday night before the arraignment. Some streets have rolling closures and traffic diverted. The Secret Service is coordinating security with the city.
The heavy police presence is there to prevent a repeat of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington, after Trump urged thousands of supporters to stop President-elect Joe Biden from taking office.
“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” Trump told the crowd.
Trump again called for protests on March 18 when he predicted his indictment and asked supporters “to take our nation back.” He warned of “potential death and destruction” on March 24 if he was charged.
A Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on nearly 30 unspecified charges on April 30, following an investigation by District Attorney Alvin Bragg into hush money payments made to two women who said Trump had sex with them. The indictments are sealed, but the Associated Press reported they contain at least one felony.
The investigation focused on a payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Trump. Trump has denied the affair.
Trump’s attorneys said he would turn himself in for arraignment and processing. Secret Service agents visited the courthouse on March 31 to determine Trump’s route in and out of the building.
What will happen (times are approximate):
- 12:45 p.m., Monday: Trump travels by private jet from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to LaGuardia International Airport.
- Monday afternoon: The Secret Service drives Trump from LaGuardia to Trump Tower in Manhattan. He’ll stay overnight in his apartment at Trump Tower.
- 11 a.m., Tuesday: The Secret Service drives Trump from Trump Tower to Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, a distance of about four miles.
- 2:15 p.m., Tuesday: Trump will be arraigned at the courthouse. He’ll be fingerprinted, his mugshots will be taken, and paperwork filled out. He’ll appear in front of Acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, be given a copy of the indictment, and enter a plea. The judge will then set a date for motions. It’s unlikely that prosecutors will ask for bail.
- Tuesday afternoon: Trump will return to Mar-a-Lago, where he will make a public statement at 8:15 p.m.
The arraignment could take up to a half-hour. Trump will not do a so-called “perp walk” escorted by police into the courthouse in public view.
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SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Associated Press
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