Former President Donald Trump announced that he expects to be arrested Tuesday over a hush money investigation unfolding in New York as he runs his third campaign for president.
In an all-caps post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Saturday morning that he “WILL BE ARRESTED” on Tuesday, according to “ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.”
Describing himself as “THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE” in the 2024 presidential race, he said: “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!”
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The post comes as news reports this week widely indicate a decision is coming soon on whether Trump will be charged over alleged 2016 attempts to buy the silence of two women who said they had sex with Trump, which he denies.
One of those women is adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who Trump’s one-time lawyer, Michael Cohen, has said he arranged a $130,000 hush money payment for on Trump’s behalf.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is investigating the case, recently invited Trump to testify before a grand jury, the New York Times reported. Anonymous New York law enforcement officials said they have been prepping security for a potential Trump court appearance, The Associated Press reported.
No timeline for any potential charges or arrests has been confirmed.
In the event that Trump is criminally indicted, he has to surrender to New York authorities and make a court appearance to enter a plea. A remote hearing is technically possible, but a court official said no virtual arraignments are currently being held, the New York Daily News reported.
On Friday, Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina said that if Trump is criminally indicted in the case, “there won’t be a standoff at Mar-a-Lago with Secret Service and the Manhattan DA’s office,” according to the New York Daily News.
