New York sets up barricades to prepare for former President Trump’s arrest

SHANNON LONGWORTH: THE NYPD IS PUTTING UP STEEL BARRICADES OUTSIDE THE MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT MONDAY, AS THE COUNTRY WAITS TO SEE WHETHER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WILL BE ARRESTED TUESDAY.

ERIC ADAMS: “YOU KNOW, WE ARE MONITORING COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE NYPD IS DOING THEIR NORMAL ROLE OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE THERE’S NO INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS IN THE CITY. AND WE’RE CONFIDENT WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.”

LONGWORTH: THE ANTICIPATION BEGAN ON SATURDAY, WHEN TRUMP POSTED ON TRUTH SOCIAL THAT HE EXPECTS TO BE ARRESTED TUESDAY, BASED ON “ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.”

THAT DA’S OFFICE HE MENTIONED IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP’S ALLEGED ROLE IN A HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TO STORMY DANIELS, AN ADULT FILM ACTRESS.

WHILE SUCH A HUSH-MONEY PAYMENT ITSELF WOULDN’T BE CRIMINAL, THE MEANS OF PAYMENT COULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL IF IT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS BUSINESS OR CAMPAIGN. 

THE DA’S OFFICE HAS DECLINED COMMENT. THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS DENIED ANY MISCONDUCT, AND CALLED FOR HIS SUPPORTERS TO PROTEST.

SINCE THEN, POLITICO AND SEVERAL OTHER OUTLETS HAVE PUBLISHED AN INTERNAL EMAIL FROM THE MANHATTAN DA, ALVIN BRAGG. IN IT, HE SAYS, “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE OUR OFFICE OR THREATEN THE RULE OF LAW IN NEW YORK. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WILL ENSURE THAT ANY SPECIFIC OR CREDIBLE THREATS AGAINST THE OFFICE WILL BE FULLY INVESTIGATED AND THAT THE PROPER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE SO ALL 1,600 OF US HAVE A SECURE WORK ENVIRONMENT.”

AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, WE’LL CONTINUE COVERING THIS STORY AS IT POTENTIALLY UNFOLDS TOMORROW–ALONG WITH OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, RAY BOGAN, IN DC.