April 3 (Reuters) – New York Mayor Eric Adams spoke directly to Donald Trump supporters on Monday to warn that authorities in his city would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute every troublemaker in the occasion of the formal indictment scheduled for Tuesday of the former President of the United States.
Donald Trump left his residence in Florida on Monday to appear before prosecutors in Manhattan on Tuesday, who will officially inform him of his criminal charge, a first for a former president of the United States. This procedural step is the consequence of the decision made last Thursday by a popular grand jury to indict him because of the payment made by his former lawyer to the actress of pornographic films Stormy Daniels during his victorious election campaign in 2016.
The businessman, who hopes to regain the White House in 2024, denounces a witch hunt and political accusations aimed at reducing his chances of re-election. He urged his followers to show their support for him.
After his defeat against Joe Biden in the November 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump claimed without proof that he was robbed of victory. In the wake of these repeated statements, his supporters stormed the Capitol, seat of the federal legislature in Washington, on January 6, 2021 in a day of rioting that ended in deaths.
Eric Adams warned against any use of violence in New York on Tuesday, saying his city was “not a playground for … misplaced anger.”
“While we don’t have a specific threat, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene – who is known for her propensity for spreading misinformation and hate speech – has announced that she will come to this town. As long as you’re in this city, behave as best you can,” the mayor of New York said.
It was not immediately possible to reach a spokesperson for the elected Republican of Georgia in the House of Representatives. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who plans to lead a rally in a park near the Manhattan courthouse, assured Sunday that she would demonstrate in accordance with the law and rejected in advance any incitement or act of violence.
Security will be reinforced on public roads in New York, as well as the police presence around the court, announced Eric Adams, specifying that certain streets would be closed to traffic. (Written by Gabriella Borter, French version Bertrand Boucey)
