It was about himself in the third person that Donald Trump left the warning: “The leading Republican nominee and former U.S. president will be arrested Tuesday.” And then the appeal to the supporters: “Protest, take our country back!” At stake is a possible accusation against the former US president for buying a porn actress’ silence for the 2016 election. 2024 presidential election?
Is an indictment likely?
While the Manhattan attorney general’s office has not confirmed it, Trump’s warning is a signal. And there’s more. The porn star known as Stormy Daniels, who says she was paid not to disclose her affair with Trump before the 2016 election, has cooperated with the grand jury. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who admitted to paying Daniels and then being refunded, also testified. Another sign is Trump himself being called to testify after he has refused. “Prosecutors almost never call the target of the investigation to testify unless they intend to charge him,” explains Bennett Gerchman, a professor of law at Pace University, AFP.
Fingerprints yes, handcuffs unlikely
An indictment against Trump would trigger a months-long trial, with the case facing numerous legal issues and moving to jury selection. We can expect several steps immediately, including arrest — or, more likely, surrender to authorities, given the non-violent nature of the allegations and Trump’s status as a former president. “This is unprecedented, there is no script for this,” explained AFP Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service agent turned criminal justice professor, who expects a “choreographed” scenario. That is, an agreement between the Secret Service (the body that guarantees the safety of the highest figures of the American state) and the Attorney General for a safe arrival at court without “show”. In other words: no handcuffs or entering through the front door. Due to the notoriety of Trump and his 2024 campaign, the judge should not consider a flight risk and the former president should be released after processing. “I suspect he doesn’t spend the night there,” McDonald said. But Trump is known for his penchant for drama and many wonder if the former president will refuse to turn himself in as he challenges Alvin Bragg’s office to stop him.
Safety precautions?
According to experts, the various US agencies are coordinating a major operation in case Trump is indicted, including stepping up security measures. But Trump’s calls for supporters to protest are worrying authorities following the Jan. 6, 2021 violence, when supporters of the then-president raided the Capitol in an attempt to stop recognition of his defeat in the November election. And pro-Trump groups are already mobilizing. The New York Young Republican Club planned to hold an event billed as a “peaceful protest against Alvin Bragg’s hateful attack” on Trump.
While officials have not indicated they expect violence at the courthouse, CNN quoted unnamed sources as saying police are preparing for possible clashes with Trump supporters. Meanwhile, the Washington Police Department, which was in charge of the attack on the Capitol, said it had no information about “any protests” planned in the Federal District in case of charges against the former president.
Source: DN
