Secret Service, FBI conduct sweeps for possible Trump indictment

Federal and local law enforcement agencies are preparing for a possible indictment of former President – making security preparations for what would be a historic charging decision.

The moves, though preliminary and preparatory in nature, come after a series of signals that an indictment in the case could be coming, following testimony by former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, and the porn star Daniels’ meeting with prosecutors.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been conducting ‘preliminary security assessments’ in the event of an indictment, multiple officials told .They are making arrangements for a security plan for Manhattan Criminal Court, where Trump would have a hearing if he were to be charged in the probe, which has seen a flurry of activity in recent months after going dormant. 

Trump currently resides in at Mar-a-Lago, so presumably would have to make arrangements through counsel to travel to Manhattan, where he continues to maintain his Trump Tower penthouse, in the event he is charged.

The movement comes two days after Daniels at the end of a week where former Trump fixer Cohen spoke before a grand jury in Manhattan. 

The signals come long after Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance crimes related related to his arranging for $130,000 in ‘hush’ payments to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

A handful of agencies are involved – the Secret Service, which continues to provide protection for Trump – as well as the FBI, the NYPD, the Manhattan DA’s office, sex as well as state court officers. 

If he does get charged, Trump’s team is signaling he will appear before the court.

‘There won’t be a standoff at Mar-a-Lago with Secret Service and the Manhattan DA’s office,’ lawyer Joe Tacopina told the New York .

Trump was identified as ‘Individual-1’ in court documents.Although he publicly made comments denying knowledge of the scheme, his lawyer Joseph Tacopina this week said his statements while president were ‘not a lie.’ He also called an indictment ‘more probable.’ The exact nature of any charges that may come in the coming days was not known.

Trump continues to deny a sexual relationship with Daniels. 

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung issued a blistering statement to Fox News, which reported that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg asked for a meeting with law enforcement in advance of a possible indictment.Cheung calling the probe a ‘witch hunt,’ the same term Trump applies to the Russia probe and the investigation of government materials found at Mar-a-Lago.

‘President Donald J.Trump is completely innocent, he did nothing wrong, and even the biggest, most Radical Left Democrats are making that clear,’ he said. ‘From Russia, Russia, Russia, to the Mueller Hoax, sex to Impeachment Hoaxes 1 and 2, and even the Unlawful Mar-a-Lago Raid, Democrats have investigated and attacked President Trump since before he was elected – and they’ve failed every time.’

‘Now Democrats are at it again, pushing the ‘Nuclear Button’ and attacking a President because of a disgraced extortionist,’ he said, disparaging Daniels. 

‘This is happening because President Trump is leading in the polls by a large margin against both Democrats and Republicans, and there’s never been anything so blatant in American political history.’