Trump LEAVES Mar-a-Lago bound for his jet to take him to Manhattan: MAGA supporters line the streets
Former President Donald Trump left his Mar-a-Lago home Monday to fly to New York, the first step in a legal odyssey that will include his arrest and court appearance a day later.
Their camper left the resort gates shortly after noon for the 15-minute drive to the airport.
It will make Trump the first former US president to face criminal charges when he is arraigned, fingerprinted and photographed at the midtown 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 Monday night.
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 back steps.
Donald Trump paused, turned and waved as he boarded his plane to fly to New York on Monday afternoon. He was joined by campaign staff and lawyers for the flight.
Trump’s motorcade left Mar-a-Lago for the short trip to Palm Beach International Airport around 12:20 p.m. Monday afternoon. Supporters lined up along the route.
After leaving office, his presidential motorcade dwindled to about four vehicles. But on Monday it was filled with additional SUVs carrying personnel.
His lawyers have said he will plead not guilty and his legal team is preparing to add a constitutional expert amid fears the judge in the case will impose a gag order.
The charges against Trump remain sealed, but are believed to stem from an investigation into $130,000 in money paid to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels.
“I will leave Mar-a-Lago Monday at 12 noon, heading to Trump Tower in New York,” the former president posted Sunday night.
On Tuesday morning I will go, believe it or not, to the Palace of Justice. America was not supposed to be like this!
Court officials say he must appear by 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
He is then expected to return to his home in Mar-a-Lago, where he plans to give a speech that evening.
New York prepares for possible protests. Police began building barricades along the edge of the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building in downtown over the weekend.
Eric Trump was seen on his way to Palm Beach International Airport before departure
Donald Trump kept up his usual weekend routine and played golf on Saturday and Sunday before his trip to New York City, where he faces arrest.
Trump supporters line the streets outside Mar-a-Lago en route to Palm Beach International Airport, where their journey to Manhattan begins.
A member of her MAGA parishioners raises her thumb while waiting for the former president to pass
New York prepares 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 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in preparation for the former president’s arrival
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted an invitation to join her in a protest near the courthouse.
“They’re not coming after President Trump, they’re coming after us, he’s just in his way,” he wrote.
Trump’s legal team is increasingly concerned that he could face a gag order.
“President Trump stands up 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 move by a third world country that further demonstrates that this is not he is more than a politician. witch hunts using an armed justice system,’ a spokesman said.
“All Americans should be concerned about the violation of their rights and any attempt to obstruct President Trump’s right to use his voice to speak truth to power should never be tolerated.
“The entire targeted crusade is a complete political charade by the Manhattan District Attorney aimed at rigging and interfering in an election against President Trump and his supporters.”
News of the accusation 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.
The Manhattan district attorney arrives at his office Monday morning before Trump’s flight to New York for his arraignment.
Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles are both veterans of the New York celebrity testing circuit. But while Tacopina is known as a street fighter, Necheles brings a more academic approach.
A grand jury has been hearing evidence on allegations that Donald Trump paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about his affair.
His lawyers are preparing to file a motion to have the case dismissed.
Joe Tacopina said Sunday that some arrangements for the arrest and arraignment still need to be worked out.
He told CNN a ‘perpetrator walk’, when a suspect is introduced to the media, was unlikely to take place due to security concerns.
“Honestly, I don’t know how this is going to go, hopefully as smooth as possible, and then we start the battle to fix this bug.” he said.
Trump is expected to appear before Judge Juan Merchan, also sitting 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.