New York was waiting impatiently for the potential indictment of Donald Trump on Wednesday, with barricades erected around Trump Tower and police on high alert. However, the date was still unclear.
Although the former president himself stated he would be detained on Tuesday, the day passed with no indication of either an arrest or an indictment.
According to some US media reports, the grand jury considering the case could decide to indict Trump on Wednesday, but it might not be until the following week when Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announces any charges and Trump is brought before a court.
Bragg, an elected Democrat, has not publicly disclosed any preparations to prevent witness tampering or perjury before trials, grand juries function in secret, making it nearly impossible to see their deliberations.
In recent weeks, the DA has invited Trump to testify before the panel and called prominent witnesses before it, dropping hints that an indictment is imminent.
If an indictment is brought, the 76-year-old Republican would be the first president or former president to be charged with a crime, a development that would rock the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is hoping to retake office.
The New York Police Department has set up barricades outside Bragg’s office and Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in preparation for an unprecedented arrest or self-surrender that would result in an ex-president of the United States being booked, fingerprinted, and possibly even handcuffed.
Every NYPD officer has been told to put on their uniforms and get ready for deployment as of Tuesday, according to NBC News.
Trump called for widespread protests over the weekend if he is charged but there has been little sign of a significant uprising to date. Prominent Trump figures like his kids have not publicly called for protests like they did after President Joe Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election.
