Donald Trump has called on his supporters to protest, claiming he will be arrested on Tuesday.
But as he says, how likely are the former US presidents to be arrested?
Trump’s allegations came as a New York grand jury investigated hush money payments to a woman who alleged sexual relations with the former president.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump declared that he expects to be detained on Tuesday, even though his attorney and spokesperson said he had not heard from prosecutors.
His message preempted a formal announcement from prosecutors and appeared designed to provoke the anger of his supporters ahead of the widely anticipated indictment. campaign sent out requests for funding to his supporters, and influential Republicans in Congress and even proclaimed and potential rival candidates issued statements defending him. .
The 2024 presidential candidate did more than simply encourage his supporters to protest about his legal perils. raised.
“Time!!!” he wrote. “We cannot allow any more. They are killing our country as we sit and watch. We must save America! Protest, protest, protest!!!”
It all evoked the rhetoric he used just before the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol in ominous ways. Congress proved Democrat Joe Biden won the White House, crashing through doors and windows of buildings and beating and bloodying police officers.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg, believed to be targeting charges in the hush-money investigation, recently offered Trump an opportunity to testify before a grand jury. Be prepared for the public safety implications of no prosecution.
In an internal email following Trump’s statement, Bragg said law enforcement would ensure the safety of the 1,600 people working in his office and that “specific or credible threats” would be investigated.
A timeframe for the grand jury’s clandestine work in the case was not disclosed. plans to testify, further indicating that no vote has yet been cast on the indictment.
That’s because Trump has taken to his social media platforms to claim that an “illegal leak” from Bragg’s office is “a far-flung major Republican candidate, and that the former president of the United States will be arrested next Tuesday.” It shows
Trump’s attorney, Susan Necheres, said Trump’s post was “based on media reports” and a spokesperson said there was “no notice” from Bragg’s office, but Trump’s mention of Tuesday The source of the comment is unknown.
Trump’s aides and legal team have been preparing for possible indictments. In that case, you will only be arrested if you refuse to surrender. Trump’s attorneys have previously said Trump would follow normal procedures, meaning he would likely agree to appear in NYPD jurisdiction or in person at Bragg’s office.
It is unclear whether Trump’s supporters will heed his call to protest or retain the same persuasiveness he had as president. On Twitter, he’s gotten far less attention than he did before, but he’s maintained a very loyal base. The aftermath of his Jan. 6 riots, in which hundreds of Trump supporters were arrested and indicted in federal court, may also have dampened supporters’ enthusiasm for the confrontation.
The indictment of the 76-year-old Trump would be a surprising development after years of investigation into his business, politics and personal dealings.
Even as Trump pushes through his recent White House campaign, the indictments are a distraction, preying on dissenters and critics weary of the legal scandals that have long surrounded him. There is no doubt about that.
In addition to the hush-money investigation in New York, Trump faces separate criminal investigations in Atlanta and Washington over his efforts to undo the 2020 election results.
