(New York) This is the day that supporters and opponents of Donald Trump, with few exceptions, have long feared or hoped for.
This is the day when American democracy will undergo a test whose outcome could influence its course for a long time, for better or for worse.
Around 2 p.m., Tuesday, the 45e President of the United States will participate in a ritual to which the most humble or clueless defendants must submit every day. Charged with a crime, an unprecedented event for a former occupant of the White House, he will be presented to justice in New York, whose 35,000 police officers will be ready to react in the event of excesses.
On the eve of this appearance, the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, has also asked supporters of Donald Trump, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, to “control themselves”. The representative from Georgia has promised to be in New York on Tuesday.
“While you’re in town, keep quiet,” Mayor Adams told a news conference, addressing the far-right pasionaria, whom he accused of being a source of “misinformation.” and “incitement to hatred”.
That said, Donald Trump could escape some of the indignities of his new state. He probably won’t be handcuffed while under arrest. And if he will certainly have to give his fingerprints, he could also avoid the traditional photo ID.
“There is no need for theater,” said Alina Habba, one of Donald Trump’s lawyers, on CNN. “He is the most recognized face in the world, let alone the country. »
The 76-year-old billionaire is also expected to enjoy the benefit of waiting in an interview room rather than a cell as he is escorted, in the presence of his bodyguards, to Judge Juan’s courtroom. Merchandise. The latter will ask him how he intends to plead the charges against him. The defendant or his attorney is expected to plead not guilty. The whole thing should take about 10 minutes.
A New York grand jury’s landmark indictment against Donald Trump stems at least in part from a payment to a porn star, days before the 2016 presidential election.
Donald Trump arrived in New York shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday. The continuous news channels devoted part of the day to following his movements down to the minute, from his departure from Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, at the start of the afternoon, until landing at LaGuardia Airport.
PHOTO MATIAS J. OCNER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Supporters of Donald Trump were gathered to watch him leave for Florida.
The former president then headed by limousine to his residence in 5e Avenue, at the top of Trump Tower, where he was to spend the evening with lawyers and advisers.
He intends to return to Mar-a-Lago immediately after his appearance before Judge Merchan in order to hold a press conference there in the evening. Rumor has it that he intends to redouble his attacks on Manhattan’s first black prosecutor, whom he has previously called a “racist”, an “animal” and a “psychopath”.
Donald Trump also claimed on Truth Social that Judge Merchan “hates” him.
Such a strategy could land him in trouble, according to Cyrus Vance, Alvin Bragg’s predecessor as Manhattan district attorney.
“I have to say I was disturbed to hear the former president speak the way he did about prosecutor Bragg and even the trial court last week. And I think if I were his lawyer – and believe me, no one called me for advice – I would be careful not to commit another criminal offense, such as obstructing government administration, which involves interfering, by threat or otherwise, with the workings of government,” Vance said Sunday on the NBC show Meet the Press.
And to add: “I think that by adding such a count in front of a jury, one can take a case which is perhaps not the strongest and change the opinion of the jury as to the seriousness of the matter under consideration. »
So far, Donald Trump and his entourage are arguing that the New York grand jury indictment is a political trump card for whoever is trying to return to the White House. The former president’s campaign team claims to have raised more than $7 million since the indictment was announced.
“All polls indicate that this political persecution orchestrated by the Manhattan prosecutor has generated massive support for President Trump,” said Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign team.
In the short term, that seems to be the case among Republicans. Two weeks ago, Donald Trump collected 47% of the voting intentions within his party, against 39% for Ron DeSantis, his closest Republican rival. After the indictment, the former president leads the governor of Florida by 26 percentage points (57% against 31%).