Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he will be arrested on Tuesday by the Manhattan District Attorney's office over a hush money payment to a porn star and has called on his supporters to protest against what he calls a "corrupt and highly political" investigation. The announcement was made on Saturday on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has been investigating whether Trump and his company violated state laws by paying $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied the affair and any wrongdoing.
The investigation is based on the testimony of Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance violations for arranging payments to Daniels and another woman who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump. Cohen has cooperated with the investigation and testified before a grand jury that has been hearing evidence about the case.
Legal experts have said that inviting Trump to testify before the grand jury was a sign that an indictment was imminent. If charged, Trump would be the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal prosecution.
Trump has denounced the investigation as a "witch hunt" motivated by political bias and has said that he will continue his campaign for the 2024 presidential election even if he is indicted.
Trump's call for protests has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who accused him of inciting violence and undermining democracy. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Trump was "once again trying to subvert our Constitution and the rule of law" by calling for protests.
While some of Trump's supporters have expressed their loyalty and willingness to rally behind him, some analysts have questioned whether his call for protests would have much impact. They pointed out that his influence has waned since he left office and was banned from major social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. They also noted that his previous attempts to mobilize his base have failed or backfired.
It remains unclear whether Trump's latest call for protests will generate much enthusiasm or turnout among his followers. It also remains uncertain whether he will actually be arrested on Tuesday or face any legal consequences for his alleged role in the hush money scheme.
As the investigation continues, legal experts are closely watching this unprecedented situation for both sides.