NYPD officers and courthouse police lined New York City streets early Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the expected public frenzy following former President Trump’s arraignment.
Officers and patrol cars alike were stationed along on barricaded streets ahead of Trump’s much-anticipated court appearance. Videos of the busy city streets showed NYPD blocking off and surrounding the entrance to the Manhattan courthouse with helicopters also flying overhead.
Media, protestors, and Trump supporters all crowded in front of the courthouse behind fencing.
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A number of protestors had already gotten into physical confrontations Tuesday morning. One woman wearing a “Make American Great Again” hat fell to the ground after trampling an anti-Trump flag on the ground near the courthouse.
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The scuffles and anticipated chaos come ahead of Trump’s scheduled arraignment after being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week. The indictment comes as part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s years-long investigation into his alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
The exact charges have not been unsealed, but many expect prosecutors to argue that the $130,000 sum given to Daniels and $150,000 given to McDougal were improper donations to the Trump campaign, which helped his candidacy during the 2016 election.
Fox News’ Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report.