Former President Donald Trump has stirred up controversy again with a recent social media post claiming that he expects to be arrested by the Manhattan District Attorney next week. He called for protests, urging people to "take our nation back," as New York law enforcement prepares for a possible indictment. The investigation centers around a years-long probe into a hush money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
This potential indictment of Trump, who is currently running for re-election in 2024, would be a historic first and could quickly change the political conversation around the already divisive figure. While Trump has a history of civil litigation both before and after taking office, a criminal charge would represent a dramatic escalation of his legal woes as he works to recapture the White House.
Although Trump offered no details on why he expects to be indicted, his legal team has been anticipating it and preparing for the next steps. The former president is expected to present himself in Manhattan following the formal charges and has expressed interest in making a speech after.
A spokesperson for Trump said that he has not received a notification from the Manhattan District Attorney's office regarding any potential indictment and was "rightfully highlighting his innocence" in his post. However, Trump has complained privately that he believes he is only being indicted because he thinks Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "hates him."
Trump's call for protests in response to a potential arrest echoes his previous calls 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 had urged him privately not to call for protests, concerned about the optics of a mass protest in the streets of Manhattan growing out of control or resembling the January 6 attack.
The discussions have been about how to navigate the potential indictment for a criminal charge by a New York county grand jury and the choreography around the possibility of an unprecedented arrest of a former president of the United States. Law enforcement officials who are privy to the discussions have expressed concerns about courthouse security and the potential for demonstrations or rallies outside of the courthouse by Trump supporters or anti-Trump protesters.
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