NEW YORK: Former US President Donald Trump, who was indicted earlier by a grand jury, will appear in a lower Manhattan court on Tuesday to face criminal charges over hush money he paid to a porn star just before the 2016 election.
Trump, who has already announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, denies any wrongdoing or had sex with adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Extra security measures had been put in place with the New York authorities expecting protest demonstrations outside the court by Trump supporters.
Trump, 76, will be the first US president to face criminal charges.
Ahead of leaving his home in Florida on Monday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “WITCH HUNT.”
On Tuesday morning, police, court officers and secret service agents were expected to escort Trump through New York to the Lower Manhattan court complex where he will be prosecuted.
Trump’s charges will be fully disclosed during the hearing, scheduled for around 14:15 local time (19:15 BST). Trump’s lawyers have already said he will plead not guilty. The former US president was expected first to surrender at the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg before he was arraigned in court.
Trump was under investigation over a $130,000 wire transfer through his former attorney Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Trump earlier flew into New York City for the court appearance as the New York mayor told potential “rabble-rousers” to behave. Trump is likely to be fingerprinted before appearing before the judge for a formal arraignment.
Trump is likely to face 34 felony counts for falsification of business records. None of the charges against Trump were misdemeanours.
Trump has consistently denied a sexual encounter with Daniels. Hush money agreements were not illegal, but the Manhattan prosecutor had been investigating whether business records were falsified concerning the payment. Trump faces at least one felony charge in the case, according to US media. Other reports suggested there were about 30 counts in his indictment.
