The former president of the United StatesDonald Trump He was formally arrested this Tuesday in New York, where he traveled to be prosecuted on criminal charges related to alleged money payments made to porn film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Trump is being prosecuted in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he arrived with a serious but calm face. He even stopped for a moment to greet his followers.
The Republican leader left his home in Trump Tower, where he spent the night, shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. BST). It took just a few minutes for his motorcade to travel the 4 miles (6.4 km) from there to the courthouse.
During the ride, he posted on his social media website: "Looks so SURREAL - WOW I'm going to be ARRESTED."
During the formal arrest process, Trump will be photographed and fingerprinted. The process must end before his court appearance, scheduled for 2:15 pm before Judge Juan Merchan, where the criminal charges against him will be read to him.
Trump is expected to plead not guilty.
The judge banned television cameras from the courtroom, but allowed several photographers to enter.
As reportedNBC, the security of the building and nearby areas was reinforced. The surrounding streets were closed and a helicopter monitored from above. Meanwhile, police and Secret Service officers prepared for possible protests.
This is the first time in US history that a former president has faced criminal charges in court.
As of Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had not revealed the grand jury indictment containing details of the charges against Trump.
Bragg announced that he will hold a press conference after the hearing.
Trump, for his part, plans to travel back to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he alsoHe will offer his statements at 8:15 pm (local time), according to a statement sent toCyberCuba on Sunday.
The former head of the White HouseHe flew to New York on Monday from his residence in Florida.
Last Thursday, a greatNew York jury voted to indict Trump after investigating secret payments of money in his name during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The grand jury investigated Trump's participation in a $130,000 payment that his former lawyer Michael Cohen made that year to Stormy Daniels, so that a sexual encounter she said she had with the mogul years ago would not be disclosed.
Trump denies the meetings with Stormy Daniels and assures that the investigation is another "witch hunt" by a Democratic prosecutor, to sabotage his race for the White House in 2024.
Recently,He called on his followers to protest against his possible arrest this week by the Manhattan grand jury.
"The Republican candidate, the undisputed leader for a long time and former president of the United States of America, will be arrested on Tuesday of next week. Protest, take back our nation!" he wrote on his Twitter account.
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