Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
It is still unclear what will happen when former President Donald Trump visits New York Monday and Tuesday to turn himself in after being indicted on 30 charges related to accusations of business fraud. But, it has become exceedingly clear what will happen once Trump returns to Florida.
According to a brief announcement from the Trump campaign, the former president will speak from Mar-a-Lago Tuesday evening at 8:15 EST. The campaign announced late last week that Trump intended to turn himself in Tuesday.
Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s attorneys, said that not even Trump’s legal team is aware of what the substance of his Tuesday speech will be.
“I don’t know what the president’s plans are,” Tacopina said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” program. “We’ve been speaking, but, you know … he does Trump better than anybody. And he’s not afraid to speak. He’s not afraid to encounter confrontation. But, again, I think that’s a decision he’ll make, his PR team will make, and maybe even the Secret Service in conjunction with that. But — but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Tacopina said he is certain that Trump is preparing to vigorously fight this court battle.
“He’s gearing up for a battle,” Tacopina said. “You know, this is something that, obviously, we believe is a political persecution and I think people on both sides of the aisle believe that, that it’s a complete abuse of power. He’s a tough guy, George, as you know, and he’s someone who’s going to be ready for this fight. We’re ready for this fight. And I look forward to moving this thing along as quickly as possible to exonerate him.
As to the order of events in Manhattan, there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to how officials will get Trump into court for processing, arraignment, and bond, then back out of the city. The City of New York is on high alert as a large conservative protest and glut of media is expected.
“[The] department remains ready to respond as needed and will ensure everyone is able to peacefully exercise their rights,” the NYPD said in a statement.
Both liberals and conservatives have expressed fear that a conservative protest could turn violent, although leaders on the right have predicted any violence would be the result of anti-Trump plants whereas progressives argue such a turn would be the result of authentically pro-Trump individuals.
“Protesting is a constitutional right and I am going to NY on Tuesday to protest this unprecedented abuse of our justice system and election interference,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted. “I also reject any attempt and anyone who dresses in MAGA but incites violence or commits violence while pretending to be one of us. You are not one of us, you are one of them. We will not live in fear and we will lawfully stand against tyranny and corruption while we show our support for President Trump.”
Trump is acting as though he expects an uneventful day, even though it’s a day he said should have never happened.
“I will be leaving Mar-a-Lago on Monday at 12 noon, heading to Trump Tower in New York,” Trump wrote on Trth Social Sunday night. “On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse. America was not supposed to be this way!”
TRUMP COLD ON JUDGE
The former president has expressed grave objections to Judge Juan Merchan, the man appointed to oversee the trial.
Friday, Trump wrote on Truth Social “The Judge ‘assigned’ to my Witch Hunt Case, a ‘Case’ that has NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME … [He] was hand picked by Bragg & the Prosecutors, & is the same person who ‘railroaded’ my 75 year old former CFO, Allen Weisselberg, to take a ‘plea’ deal (Plead GUILTY, even if you are not, 90 DAYS, fight us in Court, 10 years (life!) in jail. He [strong-armed] Allen, which a judge is not allowed to do, & treated my companies, which didn’t ‘plead,’ VICIOUSLY. APPEALING!”
Sunday, Tacopina walked the rhetoric back a great deal, telling “This Week” that he did not believe the judge was an issue. He attributed Trump’s harsh words to frustration.
“No, I don’t believe the judge is biased,” Tacopina said. “I mean, the president is entitled to his own opinion. Look, he’s been the victim of a political persecution. You know … you don’t have to subscribe to it. I honestly don’t care. It’s a fact. It is a fact because anyone other than Donald Trump would not have been prosecuted for this ridiculous, factual scenario.”
Sunday, on Truth Social, Trump remained resolute that both Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should recuse themselves.
“The Corrupt D.A. has no case,” Trump wrote. “What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial (it must be changed!), and a Trump Hating Judge, hand selected by the Soros-backed D.A. (he must be changed!). Also has the DOJ working in the D.A.’s Office – Unprecedented!”