Donald Trump arrest updates — Stormy Daniels thanks fans for ‘support’ as ex-president slams ‘hush money’ indictment

Trump spotted

Donald Trump has been spotted in public after the news of his indictment broke.

He was seen smiling and waving at onlookers from inside a limousine.

Trump expected to turn himself in Tuesday

Former president Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in on Tuesday, according to the New York Times.

The outlet reports that one of Trump's lawyers, Susan Necheles, has said that Trump will surrender Tuesday for arraignment on his indictment in Manhattan.

DeSantis says indictment is ‘un-American’

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted that Donald Trump’s indictment is “un-American,” writing: “The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American.

“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.”

He concluded: “Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.”

Trump releases statement

Donald Trump has released a furious statement following his indictment.

Trump called the case against him “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”

“You remember it just like I do: Russia, Russia, Russia; the Mueller Hoax; Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine; Impeachment Hoax 1; Impeachment Hoax 2; the illegal and unconstitutional Mar-a-Lago raid; and now this,” Trump’s statement says.

“The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference.”

Central Park 5 exonerated member issues statement

Exonerated 5 member Yusef Salaam issued a brief statement in response to Donald Trump‘s reported indictment.

He wrote: “Karma.”

Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison

Donald Trump‘s former lawyer Michael D. Cohen eventually pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges stemming from his involvement with the payments.

He told a federal court in Manhattan that Trump directed him to make the payments.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for campaign finance charges and lying to Congress in 2018.

Five-year investigation

The vote to indict comes after five years of investigating.

A conviction is not guaranteed as the prosecution must tie the hush money payments to an election violation.

Trump’s charges stem from alleged hush payments

Donald Trump‘s former lawyer Michael D. Cohen reportedly made the payments to adult star Stormy Daniels, born Stephanie Clifford, who claimed to have had an affair with the former president in 2006.

Cohen allegedly paid her $130,000 right before the 2016 presidential election to stay quiet about an alleged sexual encounter they had.

In the years that followed, Cohen acknowledged making the payment to Daniels.

The adult star claimed Cohen used “intimidation and coercive tactics” to get her to sign on to the statement denying her affair with Trump.

Star witness revealed

Michael D. Cohen, Donald Trump‘s former lawyer, and designated fixer is the prosecution’s star witness.

He reportedly paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep her from speaking out during Trump’s presidential campaign, according to the New York Times.

The Trump Organization falsely identified the payments as reimbursement expenses.

Nancy Pelosi reacts to indictment

Former speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter that she hopes former president Donald Trump will "peacefully respect the system."

"No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence," Pelosi said.

"Hopefully, the former President will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right."

More on Alvin Bragg

In June 2019, Bragg started his training for the 2021 Democratic Party nomination for New York County District Attorney, also held by Cyrus Vance Jr, who didn’t run for reelection.

Following the 2021 popular primary, Bragg led in the reported vote count and Tali Farhadian Weinstein conceded the primary to Bragg on July 2.

On November 2, 2021, Bragg defeated Republican Thomas Kenniff in the general election, getting the first African- American to be tagged New York County District Attorney.

Bragg was sworn into office on January 1, 2022.

Everything to know about NY County DA Alvin Bragg

Alvin Bragg was born October 21, 1973, and is an American politician and counsel from New York State who’s serving as the New York County District Attorney.

In 2021, he became the first African American and the first person of color tagged to that office.

Bragg preliminarily served as principal deputy attorney general of New York and as an assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York.

Trump says he can't get a fair trial in New York

Former president Donald Trump shared that he won't be able to get a "fair trial" in New York just hours after being indicted.

In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump said: “They only brought this Fake, Corrupt, and Disgraceful Charge against me because I stand with the American People, and they know that I cannot get a fair trial in New York.”

Melania trolled by Stormy Daniels fans

Melania Trump has been trolled by Stormy Daniels fans who are celebrating the former president's historical indictment.

"Stormy is gorgeous. Trump can sure pick em," a fan of the infamous actress said on Twitter.

"Except Melania."

Another slammed the former first lady saying, "I wonder what Melania is thinking at this moment.

"She must be proud of her husband."

Stormy Daniels thanks well wishers

The adult film icon thanked everyone for their love and support while former president Donald Trump prepares to appear in front of the Manhattan DA's office in the coming days.

"I have so many messages coming in that I can't respond," the delighted film star said in a tweet.

Daniels also joked that she can't move too quickly or she'll spill her champagne.

The whistleblower ended the excited post by thanking her fans for ordering merch and autographs in the wake of the ruling.

Former VP says indictment is an 'outrage'

Former vice president Mike Pence said on CNN that Donald Trump's indictment is an "outrage."

"The unprecedented indictment of a former President of the United States on a campaign finance issue is an outrage and appears to millions of Americans to be nothing more than a political prosecution," Pence said.

He added: "The American people will look at this and see it as one more example of the criminalization of politics in this country."

Former advisor predicts 'empowerment'

Moe Vela, who served as an advisor to Joe Biden during the Obama Administration, also believes Trump’s base will be emboldened.

He told The U.S. Sun: “Trump has already called for protests. That’s consistent with his playbook.

"Trump will do anything to deflect from the reality of his alleged egregious behavior."

Vela added: "His followers will be empowered, but it could be a very serious dangerous time in our country.”

Political consultant warns of 'moral disaster'

Political consultant Rick Wilson, a former member of the GOP, told The U.S. Sun that it would be a “moral disaster” if Trump won the nomination and contested the 2024 election.

He warned: “A second campaign and term of Donald Trump would be an unmitigated and moral disaster.

"For all the degree to which it advances Trump politically, it harms the nation in terms of our security and continued faith and belief in the American system of government."

Donald Trump's indictment 'advances his 2024 chances'

Political consultant Rick Wilson, a former member of the GOP, told The U.S. Sun that Donald Trump’s indictment has strengthened his chances of winning the Republican presidential nomination.

He told The U.S. Sun: “Trump’s base will lean closer to Donald Trump. They will support him more passionately.

“His supporters will view the indictment as illegitimate and will claim it’s the deep state.”

Wilson, who is the co-founder of The Lincoln Project, said he believes the verdict makes Trump’s nomination for the GOP candidacy in 2024 “much more likely."

Florida will not assist in extradition

Governor Ron DeSantis said that the state of Florida will not assist in an extradition request if New York authorities requested it.

DeSantis called the indictment: “the weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda.”

Under Florida law, the governor can call for an investigation on extradition requests and must sign a warrant before the person charged in another state can be arrested.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney's office said that the agency has been in contact with Donald Trump's lawyer “to coordinate his surrender.”

Secret Service to transport Trump

According to NBC News, the Secret Service will provide transportation and protection to Donald Trump as he complies with the indictment.

New York officials and Trump's legal team are expected to help transport the president when he arrives for the arraignment.

Preparing for mobilization

A memo obtained by WNBC informed New York City Police officers that they must prepare for mobilization efforts beginning at 7am on Friday.

The memo called for all officers in every rank to prepare for deployment and be ready for mobilization at any time.

Palm Beach police don't foresee involvement

The Palm Beach police will not be involved in Donald Trump's indictment, despite their jurisdiction being over his estate in Mar-a-Lago.

Captain William Rothrock told The Washington Post:
“We’ve received no external communications,” 

“We don’t have any involvement with it at this point.”

Rothrock added that the department will be keeping an eye on Trump's home for potential demonstrations.

'There should be a dead body laying next to him'

Former adviser to Donald Trump, David Urban, told The Washington Post: “If you’re going to indict the president, there should be a dead body laying next to him. This is far from it.”

Urban is not working for Trump's 2024 campaign, but he spoke out against his indictment, echoing claims it was politically motivated.

When asked how he thinks the former president will respond, Urban stated: “He’ll do Trump. He’ll show up. He’ll be indignant. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does a presser on the steps. His lawyers might keep him from doing that. But he’ll want to.

"Even people who don’t like Trump, they think it’s politically motivated. I think even Democrats were cautioning this shouldn’t be the first thing to go.”

'There should be a dead body laying next to him'

Former adviser to Donald Trump, David Urban, told The Washington Post: “If you’re going to indict the president, there should be a dead body laying next to him. This is far from it.”

Urban is not working for Trump's 2024 campaign, but he spoke out against his indictment, echoing claims it was politically motivated.

When asked how he thinks the former president will respond, Urban stated: “He’ll do Trump. He’ll show up. He’ll be indignant. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does a presser on the steps. His lawyers might keep him from doing that. But he’ll want to.

"Even people who don’t like Trump, they think it’s politically motivated. I think even Democrats were cautioning this shouldn’t be the first thing to go.”