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All officers with the NYPD have been instructed to show up Friday morning in “full uniform” following a Manhattan grand jury’s indictment of former President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The grand jury determined that sufficient evidence existed to indict Trump concerning the concealment of quiet money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, even though legal experts have expressed doubt about Trump’s culpability and though federal authorities passed on filing similar charges.
The department has instructed its detectives to wear their full uniform, even those who typically dress in plain clothes, as the city prepares for potential unrest. Additionally, more law enforcement officers will patrol all five boroughs of the city, although there have been no credible threats reported, the Washington Examiner noted.
“The department remains ready and available to respond to protests and counter-protests,” NYPD said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, adding that the department will be working with state and federal authorities regarding safety protocols.
Trump urged his followers to demonstrate on the streets of New York after initially alerting them to his potential arrest earlier this month. In the subsequent weeks, city and law enforcement authorities have convened to strategize security measures.
Conversations between the NYPD and the FBI have centered on the likelihood that a criminal indictment against Trump could heighten risks to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team, as reported by CNN. Additional subjects encompassed courthouse safety and the prospect of demonstrations near the courthouse. A barrier had been previously set up around the New York courthouse where a grand jury devoted months to hearing testimonies related to the Daniels inquiry.
“The police department said it will respect the public’s First Amendment rights but won’t tolerate property damage or violence,” the Examiner added.
Trump was indicted late Thursday afternoon, according to previous reports, but it came after some believed he would not be indicted this month.
“The break would push any indictment of the former president to late April at the earliest, although it is possible that the grand jury’s schedule could change. In recent weeks, the Manhattan district attorney’s office hasn’t convened the panel on certain days. But it is District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prerogative to ask the grand jury to reconvene if prosecutors want the panel to meet during previously planned breaks,” Politico reported earlier in the week.
“The grand jury, which heard testimony in the Trump case on Monday, isn’t meeting Wednesday and is expected to examine evidence in a separate matter Thursday, the person said. The grand jury, which typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, is scheduled to consider another case next week on Monday and Wednesday, the person said, and isn’t expected to meet Thursday due to the Passover holiday,” the outlet added.
Trump resides in Florida, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, a prospective 2024 GOP primary opponent of the former president, has made clear where he stands on the matter, announcing on Thursday night that the state will not cooperate with any request to extradite Trump.
“The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American,” DeSantis tweeted.
“The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent. Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda,” he added.
Extradition would only be required if Trump refused to leave his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to attend an arraignment hearing in New York.
A Quinnipiac University Poll posted by Trump on his Truth Social platform found that the vast majority of Americans believe the indictment is politically motivated, including a nearly three-fourths of independents surveyed.
Quinnipiac Poll: Do you think the Manhattan DA’s case involving former President Trump is mainly motivated by politics or mainly motivated by the law?
Motivated by Politics: 62%
Motivated by the law: 32%
Politics/Law
GOP: 93/5
Dem: 29/66
Indy: 70/26
