Trump says he expects to be arrested on Tuesday as New York authorities prepare to indict him

Former President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he expects to be arrested in connection with the years-long investigation into a hush money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels, and he urged his supporters to oppose any such action.

Trump, referring to himself, said in a social media post that the “leading Republican candidate and former President of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week” – though he did not say why. His team stated that it had not received any notifications from prosecutors following Trump’s post.

According to CNN’s John Miller, meetings between city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in New York City have been going on all week about security preparations for a possible Trump indictment.

In an echo of his appeals to supporters in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Trump called for action on Saturday, writing, “Protest, take our nation back.”

According to multiple people briefed on the matter, the former president has been agitating for his team to rile up his base and believes that an indictment would help him politically.

Any indictment of the former president, who is running for reelection in 2024, would be a historic first and would dramatically alter the political conversation surrounding an already divisive figure. While Trump has a long history of civil litigation, both before and after taking office, a criminal charge would be a dramatic escalation of his legal woes as he attempts to reclaim the presidency.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, another witness is expected to testify before the grand jury investigating the hush money payments on Monday. It is unclear whether this would be the final witness before the committee votes on whether to indict.

Trump’s legal team has been anticipating an indictment and has been planning the next steps behind the scenes.
Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, later stated that the former president based his claims on press reports.

“No one says anything to us, which is very frustrating. “President Trump is basing his response on press reports,” Tacopina told CNN.

Earlier Saturday, a Trump spokesperson stated that the former president had not received notification from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office about any potential indictment, but that he was “rightfully highlighting his innocence” in his post.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, tweeted Saturday that any potential indictment of the former president would be a “outrageous abuse of power” by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, foreshadowing a potential line of defence from Republicans on Capitol Hill.

On Saturday, Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, echoed McCarthy’s message. “Well, like many Americans, I’m just – I’m taken aback,” Pence said in a radio interview with Breitbart News. The investigation into the former vice president by the Manhattan district attorney “reeks” of “political prosecution,” according to the former vice president.
On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

Protest call reminiscent of comments made on January 6,

According to a source familiar with Trump’s comments, Trump has privately expressed his belief that he will be indicted solely because Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “hates” him.
His call for a protest in response to a possible arrest echoes his final days in office, when he urged supporters to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Some of Trump’s advisers privately urged him not to call for protests, fearing the optics of a mass protest in Manhattan’s streets spiralling out of control or resembling the 2021 insurgency.

On Monday, another witness is scheduled to testify.

Following any possible indictment, Trump’s defence team is expected to be notified, and they will then negotiate surrender and an initial appearance.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, another witness is expected to testify before the grand jury investigating the hush money payments on Monday. It is unclear whether this would be the final witness before the committee votes on whether to indict.

Trump’s team has stated repeatedly that he will refuse to testify before the grand jury. However, multiple sources familiar with his legal team’s thinking say that if an indictment is issued, he will negotiate a surrender date with the district attorney’s office.

According to sources familiar with the meetings, Trump’s team has been huddled all week planning for various scenarios, including Trump travelling to New York and having a remote hearing where he stays at Mar-a-Lago.

Some members of Trump’s legal team are advising him to request a remote appearance for security reasons if he is indicted, but it is unclear if he would agree to that because he has discussed with his team wanting to give a statement at the courthouse, according to sources.

According to sources, Trump is also considering hiring a new TV-friendly lawyer who can handle outside media. The former president is known for hiring lawyers and advisers based on their ability to defend him in the media and their TV presence.

Jim Trusty and Christina Bobb, two lawyers currently involved in the Justice Department’s investigations into the former president, were brought into Trump’s orbit after he saw them on television.

The campaign is also hiring more people to focus on messaging related to the potential indictment, as first reported by The New York Times.

Law enforcement discussions continue.

Law enforcement discussions have focused on how to navigate the possibility of a criminal charge being indicted by a New York county grand jury, as well as the choreography surrounding the arrest of a former president, which would be unprecedented.

If he is indicted, the former president is expected to surrender and be processed and arraigned at the courthouse, which includes fingerprinting and a mug shot, according to a source familiar with the situation.

According to the source, there may be some accommodations made to expedite how quickly Trump is processed and how long he is in the building. According to the source, officials would try to get him in front of a judge as soon as possible.

The New York Police Department did not immediately respond to CNN’s enquiry after Trump’s Saturday posts. However, New York City law enforcement sources told CNN that security for a possible Trump indictment was discussed during the NYPD daily briefing on Saturday morning, and that social media is being monitored daily for any threats.
According to CNN, law enforcement sources are aware that Trump has a devoted following and are taking a wait-and-see approach. They don’t know how many people are expected to show up in Manhattan this week, but officials are keeping an eye on the situation. A more in-depth security briefing is scheduled for Monday.

Trump’s US Secret Service detail would transport him to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for fingerprinting and mugshots in detective squad offices. Following arrest processing, the former president would be brought directly to an arraignment before a judge, where he would most likely be released on his own recognisance, as is customary in cases where a defendant is allowed to voluntarily surrender.