Former President Donald Trump arrived in Miami Monday afternoon after flying into town aboard his Trump-branded private jet. He will stay at the Trump National Doral for the night and depart by motorcade Tuesday for the Miami US District Court, where will be arraigned on 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and obstructing investigations.
The current front-runner for the GOP nomination, who turns 77 Wednesday, waved to the crowd before heading off to the Doral. Meanwhile, MAGA crowds had already gathered in front of the resort to cheer for The Donald. Supporters told the NY Post why they still backed the former president despite the charges, which legal analyst Andrew McCarthy called “devastating,” adding, “if they can prove half of it, he’s toast.”
Said Miami resident Ruth Swanson:
I think it’s patently unfair to prosecute Donald Trump as he is just beginning his campaign for president. It looks very much like a witch hunt and I think we need to fight for fairness in our system.
It’s political theater. Especially since the Bidens have so much against them that hasn’t been addressed — from Hunter to Joe Biden.
After Tuesday’s arraignment, Trump’s expected to fly to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf resort to deliver a press conference. I think it’s safe to expect him to be fired up. In fact, he already is, posting prolifically throughout Monday, with many of the “Truths” taking on this tone:
The city is also on edge considering the likelihood that protests will erupt from both MAGA fans and Never Trumpers:
Miami Police Chief Manny Morales said Monday that the city is ready for protests ranging anywhere between 5,000 to 50,000 people, and he encouraged any demonstrations to be peaceful.
“I just want to assure the city we are ready, and we’re ready for it to be over and done,” Morales said.
There will be multiple agencies involved in security efforts for the court appearance, including U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Secret Service, the Miami police, the Miami-Dade County police, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear who exactly will be representing Trump in the case since his two lead lawyers regarding the classified docs, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, stunningly resigned Friday after the indictment dropped. One MSNBC panel was even theorizing Monday that the trial could be delayed while Trump looks for new lawyers, but since that’s an MSNBC take, we can probably bet against that happening.
For now, at least, he will proceed with another lawyer in his orbit, Todd Blanche, as he explained on social media Friday:
For purposes of fighting the Greatest Witch Hunt of all time, now moving to the Florida Courts, I will be represented by Todd Blanche, Esq., and a firm to be named later.
However, there is discussion among experts on whether Blanche must be a member of the Bar of the Southern District of Florida, which he is not, in order to represent the former president. The judge may require him to have a local lawyer on hand.
One thing about Trumpworld is that it’s never boring, and tomorrow will bring another huge news day as we continue to novel at the sight of a former president–and chief rival to the current one–hauled in front of a judge at the behest of Biden’s Department of Justice.
Related:
The Real ‘Threat to Democracy?’ Our Banana Republic Department of (in)Justice
On Trump Arraignment Eve, the Gaslighting From CNN and Fox News Reaches Obscene Levels
Oops! Democrats Did It Again – Trump Surges in Polls After Indictment