On Monday, the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD held a conference call to discuss potential arrangements in the event that former President Donald Trump is indicted, including court security and the process for his possible surrender. Typically, white collar criminal defendants in New York can negotiate their surrender.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams reassured the public that the city is ready for any protests that might occur as a result of the potential indictment. He stated that the NYPD is monitoring social media to ensure there are no inappropriate actions in the city and that they are confident in their ability to handle the situation.
Over the weekend, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to call for protests against what he believes will be his arrest on Tuesday. The potential indictment is tied to the Manhattan district attorney's investigation into the 2016 hush payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, paid Daniels $130,000 during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign to allegedly silence her regarding an affair she claimed to have had with Trump. The former president has denied the affair, and his attorneys have portrayed the payment as extortion.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is currently deliberating whether to charge former President Donald Trump with falsifying business records. The charges would stem from allegations that the Trump Organization reimbursed Michael Cohen for the payment made to Stormy Daniels and subsequently recorded the reimbursement as a legal expense. Trump maintains that the payment was a private contract between two parties and denies any wrongdoing.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the numerous reports regarding a potential indictment but stated he has not spoken with Bragg about the matter.
As anticipation builds, small protests are being organized by various grassroots groups. However, Ali Alexander, the conservative activist behind the "Stop the Steal" movement, has announced his group will not participate in any demonstrations.
In Palm Beach County, Florida, authorities are preparing for potential protests near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate should an indictment occur. On Sunday, a small group of pro-Trump demonstrators assembled on the bridge connecting Palm Beach to the mainland, vowing to return in greater numbers if Trump is indicted.
A recent intelligence bulletin from the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency warns that some extremists view a possible Trump indictment as a "line in the sand," which could provoke further unrest or violence.
The DC Fusion Center, a threat intelligence group within the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, has issued a bulletin warning that potential criminal justice actions against former President Donald Trump may trigger violent reactions from Domestic Violent Extremists (DVE). These extremist communities view any perceived actions towards the former president as a "line in the sand," which could lead to violence against government targets or political officials.
Following Trump's recent social media post calling for protests, the DC Fusion Center has observed a significant increase in violent online rhetoric and threats directed at government and law enforcement targets. Many of the concerning posts describe the potential arrest of Trump as a "red line" or "line in the sand," beyond which violent action is deemed the only possible response. These reactions have also included calls for a "Civil War."
The current surge in rhetoric related to the possible indictment of Trump is the most significant 24-hour traction observed by the Fusion Center since the August 2022 search warrant service at Mar-a-Lago.
In response to these concerns, the FBI is alerting local and state police agencies across the country about the potential risks associated with a Trump indictment. However, the FBI has not provided any additional information or confirmation of an indictment at this time.