Donald Trump was scheduled to enter a not-guilty plea in a New York courthouse on Tuesday in an unprecedented case that threatens to destabilize the 2024 presidential election.
Trump is the first current or former American president to be indicted on criminal charges, ushering the country into uncharted political territory.
In the midst of strict security in Manhattan and a global media frenzy, the 76-year-old will be arraigned to learn exactly what charges he faces over hush money paid to a porn star in advance of the 2016 election that propelled him to power.
The twice-impeached Republican claims he is the victim of “political persecution,” but he is also using the court case to energize his supporters and raise millions of dollars for his re-election campaign next year.
One of his lawyers told CNN that he intends to talk to reporters as he walks through the hallways toward court.
“THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS HAVE CRIMINALIZED THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,”
Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social hours before the hearing, branding the legal proceedings a “kangaroo court.”
Trump is expected to leave his skyscraper on Fifth Avenue late morning to make the six-mile (10-kilometer) journey to the court complex where he will surrender to authorities.
Thousands of police officers lined the streets as helicopters buzzed overhead in preparation for the trip, which will be broadcast live on US networks, though video cameras will not be permitted inside the courtroom.
Outside the courthouse, a few dozen Trump supporters and a smattering of anti-Trump protesters were outnumbered by media personnel.
Trump is expected to go through the normal booking process of being fingerprinted – and possibly photographed, resulting in an all-time famous mug shot.
