According to sources, former US President Donald Trump is set to face a scheduled court hearing on Tuesday, prompting his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, to assure the public that they are ready to fight the charges against him. Trump is expected to fly to New York City from his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday, where he will face charges related to hush money payments made to a porn star. He plans to return to Florida following his hearing, where he will address his supporters.
Reports suggest that Trump will be facing over 30 charges related to business fraud over a $130,000 (£105,000) payout to Stormy Daniels in 2016, made in an attempt to buy her silence over an alleged affair. Tacopina has stated that the details of the charges remain under seal and he has not yet seen them.
Trump has reportedly been meeting with his advisors and legal team to prepare his defense ahead of his flight to New York. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the former president will be escorted by members of the US Secret Service on his way to New York and will hand himself over to authorities on Tuesday. The hearing will take place at 14:15 (19:15 BST) in Manhattan, presided over by Judge Juan Merchan.
As preparations for the hearing continue, law enforcement officials, including the FBI, New York City court officers, and Secret Service, have been making arrangements for Trump’s arrival. The New York Police Department has also reportedly heightened security measures in anticipation of any protests that may occur in the city.
A rally in support of Trump with Republican House Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has been scheduled for noon on Tuesday in New York. Organizers have called for supporters to join in a peaceful protest against the indictment. Following his hearing, Trump is scheduled to return to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he has said he will make an address.
Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of “political prosecution.” He is the first US president, sitting or former, to be charged with a criminal felony. Other Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have voiced their support for him and accused the district attorney of weaponizing the criminal justice system to influence the outcome of the next presidential election.
In response, Bragg has said that the charges were brought by citizens of New York doing their civic duty and neither the former president nor Congress could interfere with the proceedings. The situation is ongoing, and further developments are expected to unfold as Trump’s hearing approaches.
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