Trump ‘gearing up for battle’ at court hearing
Former US president, Donald Trump, is “gearing up for a battle” ahead of his scheduled court hearing on Tuesday, his lawyer has said.
Mr Trump is expected to fly to New York City from his Mar-a-Lago home on Monday to face charges related to hush money payments made to a porn star.
He then plans to return to Florida following his court hearing, where he will address his supporters. Mr Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing.
His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, promised that any charges against the former president will be fought vigorously.
“He’s someone who’s going to be ready for this fight,” Mr Tacopina told ABC’s This Week programme on Sunday. “We’re ready for this fight. And I look forward to moving this thing along as quickly as possible to exonerate him.”
Media reports have said that Mr Trump will be facing more than 30 charges related to business fraud over a $130,000 (£105,000) pay-out to Stormy Daniels in 2016 that was made in an attempt to buy her silence over an alleged affair.
Sources familiar with the case have told US media that the former president is being charged with falsifying business records in the first degree – a felony under US law.
Details of the charges, including what they are and how many, remain under seal. Mr Tacopina has said that he himself has not yet seen the charges.
Mr Trump has been reportedly meeting with his advisors and legal team to plan his defence ahead of his flight to New York on Monday.
Law enforcement officials have told BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that the former president will be escorted by members of the US Secret Service on his way to New York.
He is expected to hand himself over to authorities on Tuesday, with a hearing due to take place at 14:15 (19:15 BST) in Manhattan.
Judge Juan Merchan will preside over Mr Trump’s criminal arraignment.
The Manhattan courthouse will be closed in the afternoon for the hearing, his lawyer said. The former president will not be handcuffed, but Mr Tacopina added that other details of the arraignment are still a mystery. —BBC
