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

Federal and local law enforcement are preparing for a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump – setting security up for what would be a historic indictment decision.

The steps, while preliminary and preparatory in nature, come after a series of signals that an indictment in the Stormy Daniels case may be imminent, following testimony from former Trump fixer Michael Cohen and the meeting of porn star Daniels with prosecutors.

Several law enforcement agencies have conducted “preliminary security assessments” in the event of indictment, multiple officials told NBC News. They are arranging for a security plan for Manhattan Criminal Court, where Trump would have a hearing if he were to be charged in the investigation, which has seen a flurry of activity in recent months after becoming inactive.

Trump currently resides in Florida at Mar-a-Lago, so he would likely have to make arrangements through an attorney to travel to Manhattan, where he continues to maintain his Trump Tower penthouse, in case he would be charged.

A handful of law enforcement agencies are bracing for Donald Trump’s possible indictment in Manhattan over “silent” payments over his alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump denies having sex

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

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

A handful of agencies are involved — the Secret Service, which continues to provide protection for Trump — as well as the FBI, NYPD, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, as well as state law enforcement officers.

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

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

Trump was identified as “Individual-1” in court documents. Although he has publicly made comments denying knowledge of the scheme, his lawyer 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 the charges that could arise in the coming days was not known.

Trump continues to deny a sexual relationship with Daniels.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung issued a searing statement to Fox News, which reported that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg had requested a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible indictment. Cheung called the investigation a “witch hunt,” the same term Trump applies to the Russia investigation and the investigation of government documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

Federal and local law enforcement braces for possible indictment of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court

The news comes over the course of a week when Michael Cohen addressed a grand jury

Donald Trump’s attorney Joseph Tacopina says an indictment of his client in the Stormy Daniels case is becoming ‘more likely’

“President Donald J. Trump is completely innocent, he has done nothing wrong, and even the biggest radical left Democrats make that clear,” he said. “From Russia, Russia, Russia, to the Mueller hoax, impeachment hoaxes 1 and 2, and even the illegal Mar-a-Lago raid, Democrats investigated and attacked President Trump before his election – and they failed every time. time.’

“Now the Democrats are doing it again, pressing the ‘nuclear button’ and attacking a president because of a disgraced extortionist,” he said, disparaging Daniels.

“It’s happening because President Trump is leading the polls by a wide margin against Democrats and Republicans, and there’s never been anything more egregious in American political history.”