The former president of the United States, Donald Trump, appeared this Tuesday in a court in Manhattan, in New York, to learn about the accusations he will face in court.
Under strong police protection, the eight-vehicle caravan in which Trump and his advisers were traveling arrived at the court at 1:20 p.m. (local time, 6:20 p.m. in Lisbon), where thousands of people were waiting, including supporters, opponents and journalists. .
Before entering the building, the former president did not make any statements and limited himself to greeting the crowd.
The session is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. (7:15 p.m. in Lisbon), and the former president – already technically under judicial arrest – must submit to a protocol that includes taking fingerprints and possibly a photograph. He will plead “not guilty,” the defense said.
“It seems so SURREAL – WOW I’M GOING TO ARREST. I can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA! [Make America Great Again]!”, wrote in Social Truththe social network he launched, while traveling to the courthouse complex from Trump Tower, where he spent the night.
Also on social networks he attacked the place defined to appear before the judge – “very unfair, with some areas in which less than 1% voted” -. [no partido] Republican” – and defended Staten Island as an alternative, where his party tends to do better electorally.
Other targets of the succession of messages were Judge Juan Merchan himself – “very biased, as is his family” -, the judicial case itself – “a witch hunt” -, commented former prosecutor Bill Barr on Fox News, ” a total coward (…) who “became a virtual slave of the Democrats” -and the last elections in which he lost to Joe Biden- “completely fraudulent”.
Formally accused in a case for the bribery of a pornographic actress, at the age of 76, he is the protagonist of an unprecedented event in the country’s history, being the first former president to face justice.
He will appear before Judge Juan Merchan, the same magistrate who presided over a criminal trial last year in which the magnate’s real estate company was convicted of tax fraud, but in which Trump was not charged.
At the end of the session, he must return to Mar-a-Lago, his mansion in Florida, where he will give statements about the entire process, the office of the former US head of state reported.
protests at the entrance
Hundreds of supporters and opponents of the former US president exchanged insults and accusations in the Manhattan criminal court where the Republican magnate appeared.
A park in front of the field was the point of concentration for both groups of protesters, after the police placed metal barriers to divide the space, but also the ideologies.
However, the physical barriers were not enough to stop the mutual attacks.
“He has to be arrested. Cry, ultra-rightists. They hate us,” shouted a young man on the side of Donald Trump’s opponents.
“This is a witch hunt. You are biased,” responded a supporter of the tycoon.
Asked by Lusa if she believes Trump is innocent, a woman who declined to be named responded with intimidation attempts.
“Portuguese press? Where is the American press? I am here to support my president, I know he is innocent, but if you are posting this propaganda about my president, about my country, and about the country my father fought for, I will go public and let everyone know that you are lying. “, said.
To the rhythm of drums, Trump’s opponents chanted “Arrest him, arrest him, arrest him”, and there was no shortage of Donald Trump’s costumes dressed in orange, the colors used by prisoners in the United States.
A giant flag was placed on the ground: “Trump lies all the time”, it could be read and where no one dared to step.
“Racists, racists, racists,” was still heard.
On the other side of the metal barriers and trying to prove the opposite, Trump supporters held banners such as “the Chinese community is with Trump”, “homosexuals are with Trump”, “blacks are with Trump”.
Despite dozens of supporters on both sides, the park was quickly filled with journalists from around the world, showing just how much attention this case is attracting.
Source: TSF
