White House 'ready' for Trump arraignment violence

2023-04-07

White House ‘ready’ for Trump arraignment violence: Biden administration insists it’s ready to respond to unrest – as New York Mayor Eric Adams tells Marjorie Taylor Greene to be ‘on her best behavior’ ahead of her planned protest

‘We’re watching this closely as you might expect,’ National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said
‘While you’re in town. Be on your best behavior,’ said Mayor Eric Adams
Trump arrives in New York City on Monday afternoon

The White House and New York City are prepared for any violence that may break out around former President Donald Trump’s arraignment in Manhattan on Tuesday as NYC Mayor Eric Adams warned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other MAGA loyalists to be on their best behavior.

‘We’re watching this closely as you might expect,’ National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday in a gaggle with reporters.

Both Kirby and Adams said they are not tracking any specific threats tied to Trump’s hearing, which takes place at 2:15 pm ET on Tuesday, but federal, state and local officials are monitoring the situation closely.

The NYC mayor called out the Republican congresswoman from Georgia by name in his remarks. Greene said she would be in New York on Tuesday to lead Trump supporters in a protest of his arraignment in what is expected to be a circus-like atmosphere.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Trump supporters to be on their best behavior

‘Although we have no specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor green, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech – she stated she is coming to town,’ the New York City mayor said at a press conference.

‘While you’re in town. Be on your best behavior,’ Adams noted. ‘As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if one is court participated in any act of violence, they will be arrested.’

‘While there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow, our message is clear and simple: control yourselves,’ Adams said.

‘New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. We are the safest large city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City.’

Meanwhile, Kirby said President Joe Biden’s administration was coordinating with state and local officials. he said he said he hoped supporters of the former president stuck to peaceful protests and did not partake in any violence.

‘We’ll be prepared, should there be a need, but hopefully there won’t be that need. There should be no need for anybody to want to visit violence on fellow citizens around this or any other legal proceeding. Violence has no place in the United States. Peaceful protest has very much value place in our democracy,’ he said.

Law enforcement officials have not yet seen indications of a disruptive, organized backlash akin to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, the New York Times reported.

Trump headed to New York on Monday afternoon to surrender to police on Tuesday, where he will be fingerprinted and get his mug shot ahead of his hearing tied to charges of hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

He will land at New York’s LaGuardia airport before spending the night at Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Donald Trump rides in the back of an SUV as his motorcade arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, to head to New York City

Trump Tower is circled with barriers as security forces prepare for Trump’s arraignment

Local, state and federal agencies are gearing up for Tuesday’s historic event. The New York City Police Department, state law enforcement agencies, the Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals Service are coordinating on security.

New York police officials have a standing order out to about 35,000 officers.

‘Officers have been placed on alert, and the department remains ready to respond as needed and will ensure everyone is able to peacefully exercise their rights,’ the New York Police Department said in a statement.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg arrived at his office on Monday, after walking through crowds of NYPD officers.

In preparation for expected protests, police built barricades along the edge of the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building downtown over the weekend.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted an invitation to join her at a protest near the Manhattan courthouse

Greene tweeted an invitation to join her at a protest near the Manhattan courthouse.

‘They’re not coming after President Trump, they’re coming after us, he’s just in their way,’ she wrote.

Trump has encouraged protests on his behalf.

Greene’s rally is planned for Tuesday morning, likely before Trump would have to stand before a judge as part of the arraignment.

Details of the charges against Trump have not been released but the former president is said to face more than 30 counts, including at least one felony offense, in the indictment handed down by a Manhattan grand jury last week.

The investigation is scrutinizing six-figure payments made to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Both women claim they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he got into politics. Trump denies an affair with either woman and denies any wrongdoing – arguing that the case against him is politically motivated.

He is the first former president in history to be indicted.

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