LIVE UPDATES: Trump returns to NYC to face historic indictment in Stormy Daniels hush money probe – The Denver Post
Leonard Greene | New York Daily News
All eyes are on New York City today where former President Donald Trump returns Monday ahead of a scheduled historic criminal indictment related to allegations he arranged for hush money to be paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Never before has a former president faced criminal charges — and never before has the Big Apple braced for the kinds of protests that could accompany his arrival and court appearance. Stay tuned here for live updates:
2:28 p.m. ET
Mayor Adams has warned protesters, including Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, to “be on your best behavior.”
“While there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow our message is clear and simple: control yourselves,” the mayor said at a City Hall press conference. “New York City’s our home — not a playground for your misplaced anger.”
Adams said the NYPD had no knowledge of any specific threats related to Trump’s appearance and arraignment tomorrow.
2:21 p.m. ET
Trump’s legal team has filed a motion opposing news cameras in the courtroom to document the former president’s arraignment and subsequent trial, according to CNN.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that such an arrangement would carry an unfair presumption of guilt and put his safety at risk.
News outlets arguing for cameras, including the Daily News, have said there presence would ensure transparency to document the historic events.
1:31 p.m. ET
Small groups of Trump supporters and detractors are facing off on Fifth Avenue behind a sea of barricades surrounding Trump Tower.
“The indictment? It’s dirty politics. Absolutely dirty politics,” said John McGuigan, who traveled from New Jersey to show his support for the former president.
“They just want to take him out of the race but this will make him stronger. He’s gaining more attention this way than he would if he was just doing rallies around the country. And he’s coming back here today and I can hardly wait to cheer for him because we need him now.”
Robert Hoatson, 71, of East Orange, NJ, was holding a sign that said, “Lock him up and throw the key away.”
“I think people are finally waking up to the fact that since 2015 when he rode that escalator and demeaned people and started his autocratic journey to power, I think people are waking up now, and saying, ‘This man is absolutely crazy,’” Hoatson said.
Hoatson said he is hopeful that the protests stay civil.
“If it gets too hairy, then I leave,” he said.
Reporting by Rebecca White
1:23 p.m. ET
Trump took off in a private plane from Palm Beach International Airport at 1 p.m. to travel to New York City to face charges, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
1:16 p.m. ET
With the clock ticking toward his historic criminal indictment, Trump has added a new high-powered lawyer to his legal team, according to a report.
Joining Team Trump is white-collar criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche, according to Politico.
Blanche will operate as Trump’s lead counsel to handle the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal indictment of the former president.
Unclear is the role of Trump attorney Joe Tacopina, who is said to still be part of the legal team.
12:26 p.m. ET
Former President Donald Trump left his Mar-a-Lago compound just after noon Monday en route to a Florida airport for the first leg of his trip to New York City to face a criminal indictment
Some of his most ardent supporters lined Southern Blvd. when his motorcade passed on the way from his Palm Beach estate to Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach. They began lining up at 5 a.m.
Trump is headed to LaGuardia Airport and plans to spend the night at his home in Manhattan’s Trump Tower before his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Monday afternoon.
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