Donald Trump’s court hearing has been set for Tuesday afternoon after a grand jury indicted him in connection with a $130,000 payout to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
According to CBS News, a law enforcement official said that Trump is expected to fly his private plane to New York on Monday before surrendering to officials on Tuesday.
Donald Trump, 76, denies wrongdoing. He is the first serving or former US president to face a criminal charge.
The process is likely to involve dozens or possibly hundreds of Secret Service agents, the official, speaking to CBS on condition of anonymity, informed.
The former US president will not be handcuffed as shackles are typically only used on suspects who are thought to be a flight or safety risk, he added.
Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina spoke to ABC News and said that Trump will “probably” appear in court on Tuesday, “but nothing is certain”.
He said that prosecutors “will try and get every ounce of publicity they can from this thing”, but “the president will not be put in handcuffs”.
“I understand they're going to be closing off blocks around the courthouse, shutting down the courthouse,” he told ABC News.
ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: All About Hush Money Case In Which Donald Trump Is Indicted And What Happens Next
Protests Expected Across US: US Capitol Police
According to reports, the security is being co-ordinated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York City Police Department (NYPD), Secret Service, and New York City court officers.
CBS cited sources as saying that they are bracing for possible scenarios that include attacks against Trump, prosecutors, jurors or members of the public. The district attorney’s office has received “many threats”, the CBS reported sources as revealing.
Law enforcement officials were seen discussing security near the courthouse on Friday
On Friday morning, police officers were on patrol and security plans were being put into place in anticipation of what may come next week, even as the streets around the courthouse were calm.
The barricades were also going up in the area.
As per reports, the area is expected to go into lockdown when the former president attends court.
In Washington, the US Capitol Police, tasked with safeguarding lawmakers in the US Congress, said the force believes protests will take place across the country. The police have plans in place to increase security at the US Capitol, the BBC reported.
It is unclear how many charges are contained in the indictment, which is still sealed.
Earlier, CNN reported that Trump faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud.
On Friday, the former US president began attacking the judge assigned to his case in what is being seen as an effort to undermine the credibility of the investigation and rally his base to his defence.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has declined to comment on the indictment.