CNN Newsource correspondent Gloria Pazmino reported that the New York City Police Department loaded steel barricades next to Manhattan Criminal Courthouse Monday morning in preparation for a possible indictment against former President Trump.
“In anticipation of a possible Trump Indictment, the NYPD has set up barricades across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court,” Pazmino tweeted.
At Manhattan Criminal Court the NYPD is setting up barricades directly across the street from court in anticipation of a possible Trump indictment this week: https://t.co/Jl5j9tPS78 pic.twitter.com/RYPtJZfcav
— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) March 20, 2023
WNBC reported that security agencies and law enforcement from all levels, including local, state, and federal, had begun to prepare for possible indictment and conducted preliminary security assessments.
According to the outlet, security plans were discussed between the agencies for the Manhattan Criminal Court. The NYPD, New York State Court Officers, and the U.S. Secret Service were involved. Also, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office are all involved.
In a Facebook post, Trump said that he believed he would face arrest on Tuesday.
Trump, who is a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, exhorted citizens to “protest and take back our country.”
Later in the day, Trump’s spokesperson appeared to walk the statement back and say that there was no notification other than illegal leaks by the Just Dept. KABC reported that the matter was being investigated by the DA’s Office. A spokesperson said that Trump would attend a rally in Texas the following weekend.
Many politicians, pundits, and other interested parties expressed their opinions about the possible indictment over the weekend and Monday.
Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey, was one of them. Christie said Trump was “not an honest man of his word” and also agreed with Trump’s assessment that Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, was “partisan.”
This case is based on a hush-money payment that was allegedly made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. According to the Associated Press, Trump is accused of falsifying business records and accounting for the payment as legal expenses, a New York misdemeanor.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer, allegedly paid $130,000. Cohen pleaded guilty in connection to the payment for violating federal campaign finance laws.
Monday morning, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-K.Y.) Cohen was called “the least credible witness that I ever questioned during the time I served on the House Oversight Committee.”
The tweet stated that Trump’s attorney admitted to taking unsolicited actions and offering ‘legal advice’, without regard for the underlying legality.
Disbarred attorney Michael Cohen is the least credible witness I ever questioned during my time on the House Oversight Committee. He admits that as President Trump’s attorney, he took unsolicited actions and offered “legal advice” without concern for underlying legality. pic.twitter.com/oyq3mIw7Wu
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 20, 2023
Stormy Daniels, who was the subject of the controversial payment, met with prosecutors last Wednesday and agreed to testify for the DA against Trump. The New York Post reported that she also met with prosecutors.
