New York prepares for Trump’s indictment: Secret Service, FBI conduct security sweeps

Federal and local law enforcement agencies are preparing for a possible indictment against former President Donald Trump and are making security preparations for what would be a historic indictment decision.

The moves, while preliminary and preliminary in nature, come after a series of signals that an indictment in the Stormy Daniels case could be forthcoming, after testimony from former Trump fixer Michael Cohen and porn star Daniels’ meeting with prosecutors.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have conducted “preliminary security assessments” in the event of an indictment, multiple officials said NBC news. They are making arrangements for a security plan for the Manhattan criminal court where Trump would hold a hearing if charged in the investigation, which has seen a flurry of activity in recent months after going dormant.

Trump currently resides at Florida’s Mar-a-Lago, so would presumably have to make arrangements through counsel to travel to Manhattan, where he will continue to keep his Trump Tower penthouse, in case he is indicted.

The move comes two days after Daniels met with prosecutors at the end of a week where former Trump fixer Cohen spoke before a grand jury in Manhattan.

The signals come long after Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance crimes related to arranging $130,000 in “silent” payments to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

It involves a handful of agencies — the Secret Service, which continues to protect Trump — as well as the FBI, the NYPD, the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and bailiffs.

If he is charged, Trump’s team will indicate that he will appear in court.

“There will be no stalemate at Mar-a-Lago with the Secret Service and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office,” attorney Joe Tacopina told the New York newspaper New York. Daily news.

Trump was identified as “Individual-1” in court documents. Although he made public comments denying knowledge of the plan, his attorney Joseph Tacopina said this week that his statements while president were “not a lie.” He also called an indictment “more likely.” The exact nature of any charges that may come in the coming days was not known.

Trump continues to deny having a sexual relationship with Daniels.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung issued a blistering statement to Fox News, which reported that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg asked for a meeting with law enforcement officials ahead of a possible indictment. Cheung calls the probe a “witch hunt,” the same term Trump applies to the Russian probe and the investigation of government materials found at Mar-a-Lago.

“President Donald J. Trump is completely innocent, he did nothing wrong, and even the biggest, most radical left Democrats make that clear,” he said. “From Russia, Russia, Russia, to the Mueller hoax, to impeachment hoaxes 1 and 2, and even the illegitimate Mar-a-Lago attack, Democrats have investigated and attacked President Trump before he was elected — and they have failed every time. time.’

“Now the Democrats are at it again, pushing the ‘nuclear button’ and attacking a president over a disgraced racketeer,” he said contemptuously of Daniels.

“This is happening because President Trump is leading in the polls by a large margin against both Democrats and Republicans, and there has never been anything more egregious in American political history.”