Various press reports show that steel barricades were being unloaded Monday from a New York Police Department truck in front of the Manhattan courthouse and district attorney’s offices in lower Manhattan.
NBC reported over the weekend that federal, state and local law enforcement were preparing to deal with the potential violent effects of a potential indictment against former President Trump.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was to be arrested Tuesday in connection with allegedly paying illegal money to porn actress Stormy Daniels, and called on his supporters to protest. “Protest, take back our nation!” he said he.
This call has raised concerns about how his followers might respond. When Trump lost his 2020 re-election bid, his calls for his base to fight back culminated in the violent January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Several lawmakers have weighed in. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said there is “no reason” to protest a possible arrest of Trump. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Sunday there should be “no violence and no harm.” “I don’t think people should be protesting this,” McCarthy said when asked about Trump’s statement.
For his part, former Trump Vice President Mike Pence called the potential accusation against Trump “deeply concerning” but noted that “violence will not be tolerated.” “We respect the right of Americans to let his voice be heard and to express their frustration at what appears to be a politically motivated prosecution of the former president,” Pence said. “But we want to send a very clear message that violence will not be tolerated and anyone who engages in violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Trump has fired up Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his office as the case continues. Bragg told his staff over the weekend that “attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York” will not be tolerated.
