We lament the loss of justice in America today, Donald Trump wrote in an email to supporters of his Trump 2024 campaign.
He states: “The day has come when the political party in power APPRESSES its main rival despite the latter having done NO CRIME.
“I want to take a moment to thank you for all of your support because I will be unavailable for the upcoming few hours.
“Our society is turning into a Marxist Third World country, criminalizing dissent and imprisoning its political opposition.”
He goes on: “We are a nation that declared its independence from the world’s biggest empire, won two world wars, and landed the first man on the moon.
“Resilience is in our blood.
“Our movement has overcome so much.
“And there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail once again and WIN the White House in 2024.”
Trump wants hearing moved
We have heard from the former president for the first time today – a post on his own social media site in which he renews his attack on the judge and calls for the hearing today to be moved.
In a treat for fans of capitalised communication, the former president describes Judge Juan Merchan as from a family of “Trump haters”.
He says the Manhattan court is in a Democrat area – which, he suggests, is unfair…
Trump may speak outside courtroom
Donald Trump may speak to the media both before and after his New York court appearance, it has been reported.
Chris Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, said he met the former US president last night at Trump Tower, CNN reported.
“The president is resilient, upbeat, and is as determined as ever to fight off drivers of injustice,” Mr Kise said.
CNN also reported that Trump is “eager to speak publicly about his indictment, according to multiple people familiar with his thinking”.
Despite not being scheduled to speak until he gets back to Florida later, he is weighing up “saying something while still in Manhattan”, the news outlet reported.
However, advisers have apparently urged him to hold off until he is back among friends and supporters at Mar-a-Lago.
Where is the courtroom in relation to Trump Tower, where the ex-president is currently?
Anti-Trump protester ushered away from small gathering that has turned out in support
US correspondent James Matthews is outside the Manhattan court where Donald Trump will appear later and his team have shot this…
Trump has lost $700m thanks to social media platform – Forbes
Donald Trump has lost $700m (£560.9m) thanks to his social media platform Truth Social, according to Forbes.
The news outlet has reported that the former president’s fortune has dropped from an estimated $3.2bn (£2.5bn) to $2.5bn (£2bn).
In its report, the American magazine said the 76-year-old’s social media business had the potential to boost his fortune by billions, but the hype surrounding it never lined up with reality.
As soon as he announced the plan, shares in Trump’s Truth Social’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) shot up from $10 (£8) to $175 (£140) in two days, Forbes said.
Yesterday, they were 92% off their highs, trading at $14 (£11).
“Truth Social will not hit its projected 81 million users until 2086. By that point, Trump would be 140 years old. A more likely outcome: Truth Social will join Trump Steaks, Trump University and GoTrump.com in the graveyard of failed Trump ventures,” it wrote.
Still a ‘lot of mystery’ surrounding Trump’s case, says his lawyer
There is still a “lot of mystery” surrounding how Donald Trump’s case will play out today, one of his lawyers has said.
Speaking to Good Morning America, Joe Tacopina said the former US president’s legal team are “doing something that’s never been done before” and it’s hard to tell how that will go.
He also explained that there is no indication that a gag order – a legal order that prevents people from talking about the case to the public – will be implemented.
“Here you have something uniquely different. The defendant is the leading Republican candidate for the office of the president of the United States and will be campaigning,” he said.
“Hard to put a gag order when he’s going to be fielding questions about his current legal situation.”
Trump is set to appear in court later today on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush-money investigation.
The 76-year-old has denied any wrongdoing, and has repeatedly called the indictment a “political persecution”.
‘Hillary Clinton’ arrives at the courthouse
Hillary Clinton, who battled Donald Trump for the White House in 2016, has turned up close to the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse building.
She has a sign saying: “Lock him up.”
Okay, so it’s a cardboard cutout, but as symbolism goes, it’s pretty potent.
There was clearly little love lost between the candidates when they jostled for the top job.
The following year, in 2017, Mrs Clinton said Trump’s presence next to her during the presidential debates made her so uncomfortable her “skin crawled”.
She also said she had to resist shouting: “Back up you creep, get away from me.”
All three of Trump’s lawyers will be in court
All of Donald Trump’s lawyers will be in the courtroom with him today, a member of the former US president’s legal team has said.
Speaking to our US partner network NBC News, Joe Tacopina confirmed he will be joined by Susan Necheles and newly appointed lawyer Todd Blanche this afternoon.
Trump is due to appear in front of Judge Juan Merchan at around 2.15pm US time (7.15pm UK time).
It’s here the 76-year-old will be told the charges he is facing, and asked to enter a plea.
Manhattan district attorney arrives at court
Manhattan’s district attorney has arrived at court ahead of Donald Trump’s arraignment later today.
Alvin Bragg could become the first prosecutor anywhere to bring a criminal case against a former US president.
Prosecutors, led by the 46-year-old Democrat, are expected to unseal the former US president’s indictment by a grand jury.
This is when Trump and his defence lawyers will get a glimpse of the precise allegations against him.
The six legal steps that could lead Trump to sentencing
Trump told he’s been charged with 34 felony counts – reports
Donald Trump has been told he will be charged with 34 felony counts for falsifying business records, according to leaked information.
The details reported by Yahoo News revealed he will not be placed in handcuffs, have a mugshot taken, or placed in a jail cell – typical procedures for defendants.
The charge of falsification of business records can be prosecuted in New York state as a misdemeanour.
But a source told the news site that the District Attorney’s office bumped up the charges to the lowest level of felonies on the grounds that the conduct was intended to conceal another underlying crime.
The crime carries a potential jail term of up to four years but, according to the media outlet, a New York law enforcement official has said first time offenders don’t get “jail time”.
Sky News has not seen the leak, and Trump’s indictment remains sealed, as is standard in New York before an arraignment.
It’s coming up to 8am in New York and journalists have been queuing through the night
It’s coming up to 8am in New York now, and many journalists have been queuing through the night for a chance to get into court for Donald Trump’s appearance.
Judge Juan Merchan has barred the use of digital devices in the 76-year-old’s hearing, meaning cameras will not be inside to film it.
Some photographers will be allowed to snap pictures before the arraignment begins, but after that, mobile phones and laptops will be banned from the courtroom.
As a result, a limited number of journalists will be able to access the actual hearing.
Congresswoman organises protest against Trump’s ‘political persecution’ opposite court
A Republican congresswoman has organised a protest against Donald Trump’s “political persecution” opposite the court he is appearing in.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent Trump supporter, called for people to gather at Collect Pond Park in Manhattan this afternoon.
“Wear your MAGA hats,” she urged, referring to the caps many Trump fans wear that feature his popular 2016 presidential campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”.
Alt-right political activist Jack Posobiec and podcast host Graham Allen are also due to attend the rally, along with Republican representative George Santos.
On an event page for the protest, a message reads: “Join us in peaceful protest of Alvin Bragg’s heinous attack on President Donald J. Trump.”
Mr Bragg is Manhattan’s first black district attorney and could become the first prosecutor anywhere to bring a criminal case against a former US president.
Earlier today, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, urged Trump supports to keep themselves under “control” while in the area.
He also singled out Ms Taylor Greene, telling her: “While you’re in town, be on your best behaviour.”
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The party needs Trump as much as Trump needs the party
Donald Trump inspires loyalty today for the same reasons that he attracted winning numbers in the 2016 election, writes Sky News US correspondent James Matthews.
He has an appeal to the predominantly white working and middle classes who have felt the US culture and economy drifting away from them.
His politics are polarising. He plays on anger, resentment – has always defined himself as a man of the people taking on the establishment.
He drove a tribalism through his years in power that continues to exist today and entrenches support for him.
His opponents say it’s a cult-like following.
Whatever it is, it’s a substantial chunk of the Republican Party, and, for that reason, more moderate Republicans tiptoe around Trump and issues related to him.
They are reluctant to lose those members, over whom he has influence.
The party needs Trump as much as Trump needs the party.
Today’s judge presided over previous Trump case
Judge Juan Merchan, who will be presiding over the courtroom that Donald Trump is due to walk into later, also oversaw a criminal trial of the Trump Organization.
Last December, the real estate company was found guilty of running a criminal scheme to defraud tax authorities for 15 years.
The scheme included avoiding paying personal income taxes on perks such as rent-free apartments and luxury cars.
The former US president was not personally charged in the case.
Nevertheless, he has lashed out at Judge Merchan on social media.
On Friday, he claimed on Truth Social that the judge “hates” him. He also claimed he was “biased”, a comment labelled foolish by a legal expert (see 9.59am post).
The judge did not reply to a request from Reuters for comment.
The Trump Organization trial is not Judge Merchan’s only recent encounter with people close to the former president.
He is also presiding over a criminal case involving former Trump campaign and White House adviser Steve Bannon.
Judge Merchan has been a Manhattan criminal court judge since 2009.
Two NYT newspapers, two very different approaches
Two major New York newspapers have taken strikingly different approaches to the story of Donald Trump’s court appearance.
The tabloid New York Post covers the whole of its Tuesday front page with developments, adding some alliteration to its headline with: “Day of the Don.”
The broadsheet New York Times, on the other hand, does not splash on the story, confining it to a single column on the right hand side, including a small square picture of the former president.
Polarised opinions outside Trump Tower
Supporters and denigrators of Donald Trump have gathered outside Trump Tower in New York.
Unsurprisingly, there is little consensus – very few shades of grey.
On one side are those who want the former president back in the White House.
On the other are people who think he should be under lock and key.
If Trump goes to prison, his secret service agents will go with him
Were Donald Trump to go to prison, his secret service agents would go with him, a retired US judge has told Sky News.
Joseph Cosgrove, from the Court of Common Pleas of the 11th Judicial District, said that later today, when the former president appears in court, he will be “surrounded by his own armed guards – namely the secret service of the United States”.
Judge Cosgrove added: “No matter where he goes, he will have secret service protection, which creates just this bizarre image.
“Let’s assume the worst for Mr Trump: if he were sentenced to some sort of confinement, he would be confined with his secret service agents.
“They are ordered under federal law to protect him at all cost.
“So we are wading into territory that is just bizarre – (that’s) the only way I can describe it.”
Donald Trump has accused the judge in his case of being “biased”.
The former president made the allegation on social media.
Judge Cosgrove described that comment as “not a good thing to do”.
He went on: “Judges don’t appreciate that sort of accusation.
“First of all, in this case, it is completely untrue. That’s the furthest thing from anyone’s mind except Donald Trump’s.”
The judge continued: “It’s not a good thing to step into the courtroom when the one person who’s in charge, the adult in the courtroom, is the judge.
“This is really a foolish thing on Mr Trump’s part.
“His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, walked that back the other day saying that, no, the judge is certainly not biased and that’s a smart thing to do.”
‘Unprecedented territory’: Trump could be fighting court case in middle of White House election campaign
Donald Trump’s case could return to court in the middle of next year while the fight for the White House is in fill swing, former British ambassador to Washington, Lord Darroch, has told Sky News.
He predicted that the former president’s lawyers will “find lots of legal processes to delay things”.
Under that scenario, when the case does get back to the courtroom, Trump may have been chosen as the Republicans’ candidate for the presidency.
“This is unprecedented territory,” Lord Darroch said.
“I don’t know what happens then – I’m not sure Americans know exactly what happens then, but we will be seeing something we’ve never seen before.”
On whether the legal case could boost Mr Trump’s chances of returning to the White House, Lord Darroch said the first Republican presidential primary is not until January 2024. So, there is a long way to go.
And Lord Darroch pointed out that while Trump was eight points ahead of Florida governor Ron DeSantis a week ago, and that lead is now up to 26 points, it does not necessarily hold that such a figure would win an election.
He added: “You need to win over independents, floating voters. He didn’t in 2020. And it’s not clear to me that what’s happening to him actually helps him with floating voters for 2024.”
Lord Darroch lost his job in Washington after a diplomatic note he wrote about Mr Trump became public.
He described the then president, who had been in office for about six months, as “dysfunctional” and “inept”.
Asked if he stood by those comments, Lord Darroch replied: “Of course.”
A Stormy Daniels candle, anyone?
Stormy Daniels’s alleged encounter with Donald Trump in 2006 appears to have boosted her finances.
Following his indictment last week, the adult film star tweeted that “merch orders” were “pouring in” and she was trying not to spill her champagne.
Her hashtag is #Teamstormy and people have been asking for autographs, too, she tweeted.
“Thank you to everyone for your support and love! I have so many messages coming in that I can’t respond.”
Customers were advised to allow a few extra days for shipment.
As an example of the “merch”, she has some handmade candles for sale which “smell wonderful and cleanse the space of negative energy”.
Daniels – real name Stephanie Clifford – is married to a fellow adult film star and has a young daughter and a horse farm, according to her social media profiles.
She grew up with a single mother in Louisiana, telling Vice News in 2021: “We were just trash, and my mom was a trainwreck, and my clothes didn’t fit, and I was poor and I smelled.”
But she said she did well at school, edited her high school newspaper and started stripping to support herself.
She then began a career in adult movies.
