Security stepped up at Trump Tower, Lower Manhattan courthouse ahead of Trump arraignment
Former President Donald Trump boarded his private plane Monday and flew from Florida toward New York ahead of his expected booking and arraignment, as the nation’s largest city bolstered security and warned potential agitators that it is “not a playground for your misplaced anger.”
Security has been increased in and around Manhattan since Former President Donald Trump’s indictment last week and ahead of his arraignment on Tuesday.
Road closures are in place, making access to Trump Tower difficult, while security is expected to stay that way until Trump has left the city.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell held a briefing on security measures being taken.
After his arrival at LaGuardia Airport, Trump is expected to head to Trump Tower, where he will stay the night, and then head to court on Tuesday.
“They don’t have a playbook they can pull out and go, oh ex-president indicted, were going to do A, B, C, and D,” said Rich Frankel, Former NYPD Officer, ABC News Contributor.
“They will put in a very well-worn and experienced Trump Tower security plan for his stay there overnight. And in the morning, he’ll go to the courthouse. That’s where he’s going to come to the District Attorney’s office, be taken into custody with his secret service detail in tow, he will be booked,” said John Miller, Former NYPD Deputy Intelligence and Counterterrorism.
The safety of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is also at the top of the list, as well as making sure any protests remain peaceful.
Last week, all 35,000 NYPD officers, regardless of rank, were required to show up in uniform.
The secret service and the FBI are also working with the NYPD.
But even for the experts, there are still questions as to how the next two days will play out.
“What door will they bring him in? How will he be taken in hallways to the District Attorney’s office to be booked, in their detective squad and then to an arraignment court? Will that be done in back hallways that are not accessible to the press and the public, or through public areas? Who will handle the magnetometers? A lot of logistics there,” Miller said.
Authorities say there are no credible threats at this time and no word of any large organized protests, but precautions are being taken to respond as necessary.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg already received a death threat saying, “Alvin I am going to kill you!” along with a white powder, which was mailed to his officer and later deemed harmless.