Former President Donald Trump has arrived at a Manhattan courthouse where he is set to appear Tuesday afternoon to be arraigned on criminal charges, a history-making event.
Supporters and critics of the former president began gathering outside the courthouse earlier in the day. Some anti-Trump protesters cheered as he walked into the building.
A grand jury in New York voted to indict Trump in connection with his alleged role in hush money paid amid his 2016 presidential campaign to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her allegations of an affair, which Trump denies.
Trump is expected to return to Florida shortly after his arraignment, scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) called former President Trump’s arrest on Tuesday “shameful,” marking the first comment from House GOP leadership the day of Trump’s arraignment.
“The shameful arrest of President Trump is an unprecedented and chilling chapter in the Left’s weaponization of the justice system against their leading political opponent,” Stefanik, a staunch defender of Trump, said in a statement. “This dangerous and illegal overreach by a radical DA has completely backfired for the corrupt Far Left Democrats who would rather desperately tear apart the fabric of our country than face President Trump at the ballot box.”
The congresswoman, who has already endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, said the former president will “defeat” the Manhattan case and win next year’s election.
“President Trump continues to skyrocket in the polls, and just like with the Russia hoax and both sham impeachments, President Trump will defeat this latest witch-hunt, defeat Joe Biden, and will be sworn in as President of the United States of America in January 2025,” she said.
