Trump LEAVES Mar-a-Lago and flies to Manhattan: MAGA supporters line the streets of Palm Beach and protesters swarm New York ahead of his arraignment TOMORROW
- Donald Trump left Mar-a-Lago for New York shortly after midday on Monday
- His lawyers are still making arrangements for his appearance at courthouse
- And they are preparing to bolster their team with a First Amendment expert
Former President Donald Trump left his Mar-a-Lago home on Monday to fly to New York, the first step in a legal odyssey that will include his arrest and court appearance a day later.
His motorcade swept out of the resort gates shortly after midday for the 15-minute journey to the airport.
It will make Trump the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges when he is arraigned, fingerprinted and photographed at the downtown Manhattan courthouse.
In a Truth Social post on the eve of his departure he confirmed the arrangements, saying he will fly out at noon and stay at Trump Tower on Monday evening.
On Monday afternoon, his motorcade pulled up to his jet and the former president boarded alone, before campaign staff and lawyers followed him up the rear steps.
Former President Donald Trump arrives to board his plane for a flight to New York on Monday afternoon. He is expected to present himself to authorities on Tuesday
Trump’s motorcade swept out of Mar-a-Lago for the short drive to Palm Beach International Airport at about 12:20 on Monday afternoon. Supporters lined up along the route
After leaving office, his presidential motorcade was trimmed down to about four vehicles. But on Monday it was bulked by extra SUVs carrying staff.
His campaign managers Susie Wiles, and Chris LaCivita, as well as senior adviser Jason Miller, and spokesman Steven Cheung were traveling with him, along with his son Eric.
His lawyers have said he will enter a plea of not guilty and his legal team is preparing to add a constitutional expert amid fears that the judge in the case will impose a gag order.
The charges against Trump remain sealed, but it is believed they stem from an investigation into $130,000 hush money paid to adult movie star Stormy Daniels.
‘I will be leaving Mar-a-Lago on Monday at 12 noon, heading to Trump Tower in New York,’ the former president posted on Sunday night.
‘On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse. America was not supposed to be this way!’
Court officials say he is due to arraigned at 2:15pm on Tuesday.
He is then expected to return to his Mar-a-Lago home where he plans to make a speech in the evening.
New York is bracing for possible protests. Police began building barricades along the edge of the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building downtown at the weekend.
One of Trump’s aides, clad in high-heels, boards the plane as part of his entourage
Donald Trump paused, turned and waved as he boarded his plane for to fly to New York on Monday afternoon. He was joined by campaign staff and lawyers for the flight
Eric Trump was spotted en route to the Palm Beach International Airport before departure
Eric tweeted a photo of the television in the main cabin with an image of Trump Force One
Donald Trump stuck to his regular weekend routine and played golf on Saturday and Sunday ahead of his trip to New York City where he faces arrest
Trump supporters line the streets outside Mar-a-Lago on the route to Palm Beach International Airport, where his journey to Manhattan begins
A member of his MAGA faithful gives a thumbs up as she waits for the ex-President to pass
New York is bracing for possible protests. Police began building barricades along the edge of the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building
Barricades have been set up around Trump Tower on on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in preparation for the arrival of the former president
READ MORE: Trump’s lawyers believe a Manhattan judge will impose a GAG order on Monday that will BAN him talking about his Tuesday arrest in NYC
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted an invitation to join her at a protest near the courthouse.
‘They’re not coming after President Trump, they’re coming after us, he’s just in their way,’ she wrote.
Trump’s legal team is increasingly concerned that he could face a gag order.
‘President Trump stands for transparency and our American Constitution, and any attempt to prevent him, the leading candidate for president, from exercising his First Amendment right is a tyrannical, third-world country move which further proves that this is nothing more than a political witch-hunt utilizing a weaponized justice system,’ a spokesman said.
‘All Americans should be concerned about their rights being violated and any attempt to obstruct President Trump’s right to use his voice in order to speak truth to power should never be tolerated.
‘The whole targeted crusade is a complete political farce by the Manhattan DA meant to manipulate and interfere with an election against President Trump and his supporters.’
News of the indictment broke last Thursday.
It comes from an investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Trump insists he is innocent and his allies say the charges are politically motivated.
Manhattan District Attorney arrives at his office on Monday morning ahead of Trump’s flight to New York for his arraignment
Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles are both veterans of New York’s celebrity trial circuit. But while Tacopina is known as a streetfighter, Necheles brings a more academic approach
A grand jury has been hearing evidence about allegations that Donald Trump paid $130,000 to adult movie star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence over their affair
His lawyers are preparing to lodge a motion having the case dismissed.
Joe Tacopina said on Sunday that some arrangements for the arrest and arraignment are still to be resolved.
He told CNN that a ‘perp walk,’ when a suspect is paraded before the media, was unlikely because of security concernes
‘I honestly don’t know how this is going to go – hopefully as smoothly as possible – and then we begin the battle to right this wrong,’. he said.
Trump is expected to appear before Justice Juan Merchan, also sat in the criminal trial last year when the former president’s company was convicted of tax fraud.
A court official said he will decide Monday whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom.
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