Trump predicts imminent arrest, calls for protests

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

POLITICO

Trump predicts imminent arrest, calls for protests

The former president and 2024 GOP candidate urged his supporters to “take our nation back” over unprecedented potential criminal charge.

By JOSH GERSTEIN, KYLE CHENEY and ERICA ORDEN



03/18/2023 08:44 AM EDT



Former President Donald Trump on Saturday called on his supporters to protest and “take our nation back” as he girds for an expected effort by the Manhattan district attorney to bring an unprecedented criminal charge over his handling of a hush money payment during his 2016 presidential campaign.



“Protest, take our nation back!” the former president and 2024 GOP presidential candidate exhorted his followers Saturday morning on his social media platform Truth Social, after pointing to news reports about the possibility he could be arrested Tuesday or soon thereafter.



Trump provided no clear basis for his expected arrest, beyond citing what he called “illegal leaks” about the ongoing investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.



It’s unclear if Trump’s legal team has informed him of an impending indictment or whether he’s speculating based on news coverage.



A Trump spokesperson clarified that there had been no actual “notification” about an imminent arrest. The spokesperson added that he would “be in Texas next weekend for a giant rally. Make America Great Again!”



A spokesperson for Bragg declined to comment Saturday. A Secret Service spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the NYPD declined to comment.



A flurry of news reports Friday evening said Bragg asked law enforcement authorities in New York City to begin discussions about the security issues and logistics involved in responding to a potential indictment of Trump there. It’s unclear whether the potential criminal charge would result in Trump being arrested at his new home in Florida, but one of Trump’s attorneys, Joseph Tacopina, has said Trump would turn himself in to face the charges in Manhattan if a grand jury returns an indictment in the coming days.



But Trump’s new call for supporters to “take our nation back” is indicative of the type of civil unrest he could unleash if he faces charges. His description of his anticipated arrest followed a lengthy, rambling thread in which he claimed “The American Dream is dead” and falsely asserted the 2020 election was stolen from him. The rhetoric is similar to his remarks on Jan. 6, 2021, when he urged supporters to “fight like hell” to prevent Joe Biden from taking office.



“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” Trump said at the time, before thousands of supporters marched to the Capitol and stormed the building, endangering Congress and the transfer of power.



Trump’s clarion call to his backers came in a pair of rambling social media posts early Saturday that painted a grim, dystopian vision of America and suggested that his arrest was imminent.



“Our nation is now third world & dying. The American dream is dead! The radical left anarchists have stollen [sic] our presidential election, and with it, the heart of our our [sic] country. American patriots are being arrested & held in captivity like animals, while criminals & leftist thugs are allowed to roam the streets, killing & burning with no retribution,” Trump wrote.



Bragg’s predecessor as district attorney, Cy Vance Jr., conducted a lengthy investigation into the Trump Organization’s business practices. That probe resulted in tax evasion charges against two Trump business entities and the group’s longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. He pleaded guilty last year and a jury convicted the Trump companies on the charges.




However, Bragg’s investigation has intensified in recent months on a far narrower issue: whether Trump committed a crime by disguising a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016 as a legal expense rather than as an expenditure aimed at boosting his then-ongoing presidential campaign.



The former Trump attorney who made the arrangements, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges, including one admitting to a federal campaign finance law violation in connection with the payment. However, Trump was never charged over his role.



Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in connection with the payment and has denied Daniels’ claim that the pair had sex on one occasion in 2006.



Trump’s legal straits aren’t limited to the Manhattan probe. He’s facing an anticipated indictment in Fulton County, Ga., where a district attorney has been investigating his effort to subvert the 2020 election. He’s also facing increasingly acute legal threats from a special counsel probe into his election subversion attempt and efforts to prevent the government from reclaiming scores of sensitive national security documents stashed at his Mar-a-Lago estate.



Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.



FILED UNDER: FLORIDA, NEW YORK, DONALD TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP 2020, GEORGIA,

POLITICO

www.politico.com/news/2023/03/18/trump-protest-arrest-tuesday-00087738


What a crazy thing to do call for protests!!!! Sorry but this guy is a self centered idiot and will do anything to keep his power. I hope HIS people are smarter than he is.

[BHU]

Well, unless Trump's lawyers have been informed by the DA that Trump is going to do the perp walk Tuesday then he doesn't know what he's talking about. Either way he's looking for attention & will use this for another cash grab & fund raise off people's sympathy. As a matter of fact I recieved an email from that idiot's PAC a few days ago asking for cash. Too bad for him I don't donate money to grifters, conmen, flim flam artists, coup plotters, Putin's lackeys & traitors. In other words, Trump.

[Clipper]

LOL! When I read PB's Politico post I could hardly wait for your retort. Awe come on. Are ya sure you couldn't spare a buck or two for the poor man? He is under a lot of financial pressure right now ya know. ROFL

Personally I don't contribute to ANY PAC's. Any political contributions I make are to local campaigns for people I know and personally campaign for. On a federal level too much of that money is misspent and funneled off into personal pockets of those running the campaign as well as the candidates themselves.

[BHU]

Mar 19, 2023 9:09:13 GMT -5 Clipper said:

LOL! When I read PB's Politico post I could hardly wait for your retort. Awe come on. Are ya sure you couldn't spare a buck or two for the poor man? He is under a lot of financial pressure right now ya know. ROFL

Personally I don't contribute to ANY PAC's. Any political contributions I make are to local campaigns for people I know and personally campaign for. On a federal level too much of that money is misspent and funneled off into personal pockets of those running the campaign as well as the candidates themselves.

Maybe I'll send him a sympathy card with a note reminding him not to pick up the soap. But I'm sure Manafort & his idiot lawyers already told him that. LOL

[Clipper]

LOL! Somebody better buy him a soap on a rope. Years ago English Leather and Old Spice put out gift sets with soap on a rope and a bottle of their after-shave lotion. I wonder if they are still available.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Newsweek

Newsweek

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Trump Supporters Plan Rally Despite Fears of Protest 'Trap'

Story by Matthew Impelli • 22m ago









Supporters of Donald Trump have planned a rally on Monday in response to a potential indictment of the former president, despite fears of a "trap."


On Monday morning, the New York Young Republican Club sent out an email which was obtained by Newsweek, announcing a planned "peaceful protest in response to the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's heinous attack on President Donald J. Trump and the legitimacy of the American judicial system." The memo says the protest is scheduled for Monday evening at 6 p.m. EDT with a location pending.



The announcement comes ahead of an expected indictment and possible arrest of Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney's office for an alleged connection to hush money payments previously made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.



In a Truth Social post over the weekend, Trump said that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and criticized Bragg.



"NOW ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!" Trump wrote.



While Trump called for protests in his Truth Social post, some other social media users have spoken about a potential protest and if it could be a "trap" that would lead to further arrests of the former president's supporters.



Twitter user Paul Joseph Watson shared a screenshot of a poll he conducted on Truth Social asking followers if they thought a protest would be similar to a January 6 "style trap." The results showed that 85 percent of respondents believed it would be a trap.

"FYI: The last time Trump's biggest fans protested on his behalf, he left them all to rot in jail without so much as a penny from him in legal fees. Not a penny. Shame on him for this. Do NOT go to a blue area and protest for this man. Ignore this," conservative commentator Jesse Kelly wrote.

Mike Cernovich, a far-right political commentator wrote, "Unlike J6'ers, Trump can afford lawyers. (Tho he has a history of stiffing people on legal bills.) There is 0 to do other than allow him to defend himself in court. Unless y'all really want to become stars in a sequel to January 6th. I can't believe this isn't obvious."







House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also responded to potential protests and said "I don't think people should protest this...and I think President Trump, if you talk to him, he doesn't believe that either."





www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-supporters-plan-rally-despite-fears-of-protest-trap/ar-AA18RxmY?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=807ddbfc86224b2885d4ac671e2e5275&ei=130


Noon news showing NYC Police getting ready with barricade's. Hope this doesn't get violent.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Well today is Tuesday and I guess everyone is waiting including the secret service! Drama......

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Donald Trump wants his '74 million' supporters to sign a petition railing against his potential arrest. Those who sign it are asked to donate $3,300 and more.

Business Insider

MATTHEW LOH

Updated March 21, 2023, 5:57 AM


Donald Trump emailed voters on Monday asking them to sign a petition protesting his possible arrest.



His team says they're compiling "millions and millions" of signatures decrying the "threats."



He also asked for donations to his campaign, with suggested amounts ranging from $24 to $3,300.



Former President Donald Trump asked his followers to sign a petition denouncing his potential arrest in New York. But signing this petition leads people straight to a page where they're asked to give $3,300 or other suggested amounts of cash to his 2024 campaign.



"They're trying to intimidate YOU and cancel out YOUR vote!" Trump's team wrote in a Monday email to supporters seen by Insider.



"Which is why the Trump for President 2024 campaign is compiling millions and millions of petition signatures from Americans like you CONDEMNING these threats of a possible arrest," the email said. It also called on "74 million patriots" to answer the call and sign the petition.



Trump could soon be indicted by a New York grand jury in connection with the Stormy Daniels hush money payments case. Trump has claimed without evidence that he may be arrested on Tuesday, though no indictment has been confirmed by the Manhattan district attorney's office.



Upon clicking the petition link in the message, recipients are taken to a page asking for donations to "help DEFEND our America First movement during these dark times."



The message says supporters can donate any amount, but suggests sums like $500, $1,000, and $3,300, among others.








Trump did not specify how he intends to use such a list of supporters, nor did the website display a tracker of how many signatures had been collected.



The Trump campaign also claims that donations via this form will yield a "1,500%" impact, but doesn't explain how Trump will do this. He often promises donors that he will multiply the effectiveness of their cash donations many times.



The claim is a fundraising gimmick that's been also used by other politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. However, many campaigns are now avoiding the tactic after the Justice Department in 2021 sentenced a political scam artist to 20 years in prison, in part for using this claim fraudulently.



Trump has repeatedly tried to raise funds off investigations or government actions against him. Such instances include when the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago residence and when the January 6 House committee voted to subpoena him.



Most recently, he's been using rumors of his indictment to raise funds on his social media platform, Truth Social, Insider previously reported. He said supporters shouldn't send him anything if they are "doing poorly," but told them to "send your contribution" if they are "doing well."



The former president and his team also send emails to potential donors every day, often touting rewards like a chance to dine with Trump, the privilege of signing his birthday card. One such email in June promised supporters the title of "Great MAGA King Status" — which appears to essentially be an animated GIF of a scroll.



Trump has been accused by the January 6 House Committee of raising some $170 million off his baseless election fraud claims. However, he's unlikely to face fraud charges on these allegations, legal experts previously told Insider.



Representatives for Trump and the Manhattan DA's office did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.



Read the original article on Business Insider


www.aol.com/news/donald-trump-wants-74-million-070622887.html

Now he is bribing everyone so as to get elected and maybe out of jail.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Amazing AI images

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Donald Trump

Trump wants to be handcuffed for court appearance in Stormy Daniels case, sources say

People close to former president said to be unsure whether he is serious about wanting to do a perp walk

Hugo Lowell in New York
@hugolowell
Wed 22 Mar 2023 00.14 EDT

Donald Trump has told advisers that he wants to be handcuffed when he makes an appearance in court, if he is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury for his role in paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, multiple sources close to the former president have said.

The former president has reasoned that since he would need to go to the courthouse and surrender himself to authorities for fingerprinting and a mug shot anyway, the sources said, he might as well turn everything into a “spectacle”.

Trump’s increasing insistence that he wants to be handcuffed behind his back for a perp walk appears to come from various motivations, including that he wants to project defiance in the face of what he sees as an unfair prosecution and that it would galvanize his base for his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump supporters held a rally in front of the district attorney’s office in New York on Monday.
New York prepares for possible unrest if Donald Trump is indicted
Read more
But above all, people close to Trump said, he was deeply anxious that any special arrangements – like making his first court appearance by video link or skulking into the courthouse – would make him look weak or like a loser.

The recent discussions that Trump has had about his surrender with close advisers at Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere opens a window on to the former president’s unique fears and anxieties as the grand jury, which next convenes on Wednesday, appears on course to return an indictment.

Trump’s legal team in the hush money case has recoiled at the idea of him going in person and recommended that Trump allow them to quietly turn himself in next week and schedule a remote appearance, even citing guidance from his Secret Service detail about potential security concerns.

But Trump has rejected that approach and told various allies over the weekend that he didn’t care if someone shot him – he would become “a martyr”. He later added that if he got shot, he would probably win the presidency in 2024, the sources said.

It remains uncertain when the Manhattan grand jury might return an indictment in the hush money case and make him the first US president, sitting or former, to face criminal charges.

People close to Trump could not be sure how serious he is about being handcuffed for a perp walk, but he may be thwarted in his supposed ambitions if the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, decides against handcuffing him and refuses to allow him to be marched past the cameras.

Trump’s advisers have also been unsure whether he actually grasps the enormity of what an indictment might mean for him legally, in part because he has appeared disconnected at times from the recent flurry of activity in New York as the investigation has wrapped up.

In recent days, Trump has generally weighed his predicament only in between lunches and dinners at Mar-a-Lago and playing his usual rounds of golf at his resort in Palm Beach, the sources said.

When he eventually gets settled on strategizing his response to the hush money case, the sources said, he has been more focused on how he can project an image of defiance against the prosecution and that he is unfazed by being slapped with criminal charges that could turn out to rise to a felony.

The case centers on $130,000 that Trump paid to Daniels through his then-lawyer Michael Cohen in the final days of the 2016 campaign. Trump later reimbursed Cohen with $35,000 checks using his personal funds, which were recorded as legal expenses to Cohen.

It remains unclear what charges the district attorney might seek against Trump, though some members of his legal team believe the most likely scenario involves a base charge of falsifying business records coupled with potential tax fraud because Trump would not have paid tax on the payments.

Trump has also been fixated on how an indictment might be a boon for his 2024 presidential campaign, betting that it would enrage his Maga base and force the rest of the Republican party to fall in line to defend him, in what he has already characterised as a politically motivated prosecution.

In the past, publicity over political and criminal investigations have benefited Trump’s fundraising, and forced Republican rivals to stumble between criticizing prosecutors and defending otherwise politically indefensible allegations.

Whether an indictment benefits Trump for the 2024 campaign remains to be seen given his grievance-driven campaigns have faltered in recent election cycles, with independent voters, in particular, seemingly exhausted by his constant refrains surrounding “witch-hunt” investigations.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/22/trump-wants-to-be-handcuffed-for-court-appearance-in-stormy-daniels-case-sources-say?utm_term=641afbd69b241835088e228c36b28b31&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email

I can understand why!

[BHU]

Fine. Handcuff him & outfit him in an orange Tyvek jumpsuit if they can find one that can accompdate his overfed huge ass. Yep, handcuff Trump so he can get the feel of those cuffs on his wrists for when they bust him for his coup plot leading up to the J6 insurrection & also for his theft of top secret docs that he lied to the FBI about.

Who's surprised that the biggest conman in history is using this possible indictment to fleece his followers for more money. Again.