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Former United States President Donald Trump is flying to New York City from Florida for his scheduled arraignment related to a hush-money payment made to an adult film actress before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump, the first former president to face criminal charges, is expected to be fingerprinted, photographed and formally presented with charges at the central Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday.
“HEADING TO NEW YORK. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump, who is running again for president, wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday as his plane readied for take off.
“WITCH HUNT, as our once great Country is going to HELL!”
The specific charges included in the grand jury indictment have not been disclosed. Trump’s lawyers have said he will enter a plea of not guilty.
The New York investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg centres on a $130,000 payment that Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
A court official said the arraignment is planned for 2:15pm (18:15 GMT) on Tuesday. Trump will then return to Florida and deliver remarks at Mar-a-Lago at 8:15pm (00:15 GMT on Wednesday), his office said.
New York police, over the weekend, began erecting barricades along the edge of the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building, and some other courtrooms will be cleared.
Demonstrations are expected at those sites. “Officers have been placed on alert and the department remains ready to respond as needed and will ensure everyone is able to peacefully exercise their rights,” the New York Police Department said in a statement.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams cautioned on Monday against violence or public disorder by protesters.
In his warning, Adams singled out far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had announced plans to travel to New York to protest what she called the “unprecedented abuse” of the justice system.
“People like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, has stated she’s coming to town,” the New York City mayor said. “While you’re in town, be on your best behaviour.”
Greene had stressed that protesting is a “constitutional right”.
“We will not live in fear and we will lawfully stand against tyranny and corruption while we show our support for President Trump,” Taylor Greene wrote on Twitter on Monday.
Joe Tacopina, a Trump lawyer, on Sunday said it was unlikely there will be a “perp walk” – perp being a shorthand for perpetrator – in which an individual who has been charged is paraded in front of the news media because of security concerns.
Separately on Sunday, a court official said the judge had asked both sides to submit their positions on whether cameras and video should be allowed in the courtroom and will decide on the issue on Monday.