Trump leaves Florida for New York to attend court

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Apr 2023 22:42

Before Trump arrives in The Big Apple, police remain on high alert and Secret Service agents are on standby outside Trump Tower and the criminal court where he is due to appear.

Former US President Donald Trump before he boards his plane in Florida, bound for New York (AFP)

Donald Trump left his Florida home Monday bound for New York where he will surrender to criminal charges as the first US president to be criminally indicted, as he is due to be formally charged on Tuesday.

Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that the "The Corrupt D.A. has no case," referring to the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who is in charge of the case. "What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial."

Before Trump arrives in The Big Apple, police remain on high alert and Secret Service agents are on standby outside Trump Tower and the criminal court where he is due to appear. However, Trump will deliver a statement from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump's campaign office said Sunday.

"President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, will deliver remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 8:15 PM EDT [00:15 GMT on Wednesday]," the office said in a statement.

New York Mayor Eric Adams issued a warning ahead that those who attempt to protest violently will be "arrested and held accountable, no matter who you are", adding: "While there may be some rabble-rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow our message is clear, is simple: 'control yourselves'," he said at a press conference.

Part of his arraignment involves taking Trump's fingerprints and a photograph that will become one of the most famous mugshots of modern history.

Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina said on CNN on Sunday that the road is unclear but witnessing a "perp walk" (when a defendant is taken by police in handcuffs in front of media cameras) is an unlikely scenario.

"Hopefully this will be as painless and classy as possible for a situation like this," Tacopina said.

The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is currently investigating Trump for a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. According to the New York Times, the investigative invitation of Trump by Bragg could mean the first-ever indictment of a former US President with a criminal charge.

Despite the mounting charges and ongoing indictment, a YouGov poll exhibits that more than a whopping 50% of Republican voters are fully prepared to support Trump's return to the presidential arena during the next elections scheduled for 2024.