Trump indicted in Stormy Daniels probe as first ex-US president to face criminal charges
Donald Trump has left his Mar-a-Lago compound and is on his way to New York City ahead of a historic moment on Tuesday, when the former president will be the first to be charged with a crime.
Following a grand jury indictment announced by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg last week, Mr Trump is scheduled to appear in Manhattan for his in-person arraignment on charges connected to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to his 2016 campaign.
He is expected to stay overnight at his Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on Monday night before his court appearance downtown the following afternoon.
Law enforcement is on high alert and barricades have been erected around Trump Tower and Manhattan Criminal Court, where Mr Trump will appear before Judge Juan Merchan at 2.15pm on Tuesday Mr Trump’s attorney Joe Tacopina told ABC that his client is “gearing up for battle” in the case.
This is far from Mr Trump’s only legal troubles, with The Washington Post reporting that the US Department of Justice is pursuing an obstruction of justice case against the former president over the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
