NEW YORK (AP) — RALLY IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP
People began gathering Tuesday morning for a pro-Donald Trump rally in a park across from the New York courthouse where the former president is scheduled to be indicted.
The rally with Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was scheduled to begin several hours before Trump’s court appearance.
Some Trump opponents also showed up, unfurling a large banner reading “Trump lies all the time.”
Trump supporters are also expected to gather outside Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence, Tuesday night when he returns.
THE PROSECUTOR ARRIVES
Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg arrived at the courthouse in New York on Tuesday morning hours before the filing of charges against former President Donald Trump.
Bragg is Manhattan’s first black prosecutor, elected in November 2021. He inherited a years-long investigation by a jury into paying money on Trump’s behalf to silence people during the 2016 presidential campaign.
After taking office, Bragg delayed impeaching Trump and expressed doubts about the strength of the case. This led to the resignation of two prosecutors who were leading the investigation.
But Bragg convened a new grand jury this year after indicting the Trump family business for tax fraud. He said that result was a “strong demarcation line” to proceed with other parts of the investigation.
TRUMP LAWYER: “THERE WILL BE NO GUILTY PLEDGE”
Donald Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said the former president’s appearance for indictments will be brief because the process “doesn’t take a lot of time.”
“It’s not going to be a long day in court,” he told ABC.
“We know the basis of the allegation and the facts alleged in the indictment,” Tacopina said, adding that Trump will insist on his innocence.
“One thing I assure you while I am here, there will be no guilty plea in this case. That I can guarantee,” she said.
Tacopina apparently predicted that the case will be dismissed.
“I don’t think this case will go before a jury,” he said. “I think there will be a legal challenge and it should be successful.”
THE SPECTATORS APPEAR
Many reporters and onlookers lined up overnight to get a seat inside the courtroom or at least to watch Trump, who is scheduled to appear in the afternoon, walk past.
The building was surrounded by barricades, and people had to go through various security checks. The journalists camped out in tents with lawn chairs, blankets and pizza boxes.
The nation’s 45th commander-in-chief is expected to be escorted from Trump Tower in downtown New York — also surrounded by barricades — to court with a Secret Service escort.
Police were prepared for protests from supporters of Republican Trump, who is running again for the White House in 2024. He has called the grand jury’s decision to bring indictments against him “political persecution and election interference at the highest level”.
Prosecutors are investigating money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to prevent them from publicly saying they had sex with him.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
