Donald Trump traveled to New York from Florida yesterday to face arraignment in a case that has brought the first indictment of a former American president. Today, he will surrender at the office of the Manhattan district attorney. He will then be arraigned in the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building, where his supporters plan a rally outside.
Mayor Eric Adams warned those supporters to keep the peace, saying that the dignity of the proceedings would not be disrupted. Barricades were deployed, and the Police Department sent a stand-ready order to its roughly 35,000 officers. Trump’s appearance has put the city on edge, stoking concern over the possibility of unrest as the former president is fingerprinted and photographed.
The indictment that set off the furor is linked to a payment made during the 2016 election to buy the silence of a porn star, Stormy Daniels. It is the result of one of several investigations into Trump’s conduct, including his reaction to the results of the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents.
Trump added a new lawyer to his defense team: Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor with wide experience in white-collar cases. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty when he appears in court.
Aides of Donald Trump revealed that the former president will not be permitted to speak publicly.
