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| New York and Washington Brace for Possible Protests as Grand Jury Considers Charges in Trump Investigation |
Officials in New York and Washington D.C. are bracing for potential protests as a grand jury continues to consider charges in the investigation into former President Donald Trump's alleged involvement in a plan to pay off adult film star Stormy Daniels. In New York City, where the grand jury has been meeting, all New York Police Department officers are expected to be ready to deploy on Tuesday, according to an internal memo obtained by CNN. Law enforcement officials say that while Tuesday is a "day of heightened alert," there is currently no credible threat.
The memo comes in response to Trump's social media posts over the weekend, in which he called on his followers to protest in response to a possible arrest, echoing his calls for protests in Washington after the 2020 election, which later turned violent when dozens of agitators stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. While Washington D.C. police are preparing in a similar manner, the U.S. Capitol Police "currently are not tracking any direct or credible threats to the Capitol," according to an intelligence assessment obtained by CNN on Monday.
A source close to Trump's legal team told CNN that if Trump is charged, they do not expect any arrest or initial appearance before next week. As of Monday night, they had no guidance on the timing of a possible indictment beyond the Manhattan District Attorney's office telling them not to expect anything on Tuesday. The investigation into the alleged payoff to Daniels, which took place prior to the 2016 election, has been ongoing for several years, and Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
This development highlights the ongoing tension surrounding the former president and the potential legal consequences he may face. As the grand jury considers charges, officials are preparing for potential unrest in response to the outcome. While there is currently no credible threat, the heightened alert and increased police presence in New York and Washington D.C. underscore the potential for unrest and the need for officials to be prepared for any situation.
