NY/Palm Beach:
As Manhattan boosted security, former US President Donald Trump flew from Florida to New York City on Monday to face accusations related to hush money paid to a porn performer before the 2016 election.
Trump scheduled to surrender at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday. He will be fingerprinted and photographed before pleading not guilty during his arraignment.
Trump, a Republican seeking reelection in 2024, is the first former US president to face criminal charges.
Grand jury indictment charges are unknown. Trump and his allies have called the charges politically motivated and claimed innocence.
Trump posted late Sunday that he would depart Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach at noon for Trump Tower in Manhattan before going to court on Tuesday morning.
Moreover, Trump’s plane, with his name in huge lettering and an American flag on the tail, parked at the West Palm Beach airfield near Mar-a-Lago.
Trump supporters gathered at the airport and along his planned path.
“Our country needs him,” Boynton Beach resident Cindy Falco, 65, said. “He’s pro-God, pro-family and pro-country.”
Falco predicted exoneration: “Nothing is going to stick to him.”
Court officials scheduled the arraignment for 2:15 p.m. 1815 GMT Tuesday. Trump will return to Florida and speak from Mar-a-Lago at 8:15 p.m. his office said.
He will face Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over last year’s criminal trial in which Trump’s real estate company convicted of tax evasion. Former president not charged.
Trump tweeted Friday that Merchan “HATES ME” and criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.
A court spokesman said the judge will decide Monday whether to allow cameras and video in the courtroom.
New York police barricaded sidewalks outside Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building downtown over the weekend. Journalists and bystanders gathered around Trump Tower.
