Trump defense attorneys oppose cameras in New York courtroom ahead of scheduled arraignment

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in Midtown on April 03, 2023 in New York City. Gotham/GC Images

Donald Trump shared several polls on social media late Monday evening, the night before he is set to be arraigned in New York Tuesday morning.

On Truth Social, Trump posted several polls showing he holds a double-digit lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, among other declared or potential candidates, in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

The polls reflected similar results to a Fox News Poll published last week which found Trump's lead has grown to over over 50% support in the GOP primary race. He also remains competitive with President Biden in a potential general election rematch.

According to the latest Fox News national survey among Republican primary voters, Trump has doubled his lead since February and is up by 30 points over Ron DeSantis (54%-24%). Last month, he was up by 15 points (43%-28%).

No other candidate received double digit support.

Trump's former vice president Mike Pence came in third with 6%.

Liz Cheney and Nikki Haley, who are both critical of Trump, received 3% each, and Greg Abbott garnered 2% support.

All others receive 1% support or less, while 3% were unsure.

Supporters of Donald Trump are continuing to rally behind the former president as he faces arraignment in New York as his his 2024 presidential campaign crossed $8 million late Monday evening.

Adviser Jason Miller revealed on Twitter shortly after 8 p.m. that the White House campaign had hauled in another $1 million in fundraising just hours after it crossed $7 million Monday afternoon.

This brings the total to over $8 million since last Thursday, when Trump was charged with allegedly giving hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Michael Cohen, a former Trump attorney who testified Trump authorized the payments, previously pleaded guilty to charges relating to making them.

Trump’s scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. He has repeatedly denied ever sleeping with Daniels, who he often criticizes, and denies falsifying business records to keep the payment concealed.

Former President Donald Trump ripped district attorney Alvin Bragg on the eve of his Tuesday arraignment over the leaked information on the grand jury indictment against him.

"Wow! District Attorney Bragg just illegally LEAKED the various points, and complete information, on the pathetic Indictment against me," Trump wrote. "I know the reporter and so, unfortunately, does he."

"This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED. Now, if he wants to really clean up his reputation, he will do the honorable thing and, as District Attorney, INDICT HIMSELF. He will go down in Judicial history, and his Trump Hating wife will be, I am sure, very proud of him!" he wrote.

In another post just minutes later, Trump called on Bragg to resign.

"D.A. BRAGG JUST ILLEGALLY LEAKED THE 33 points of Indictment. There are no changes or surprises from those he leaked days ago directly out of the Grand Jury. No Crime by Trump. What a MESS. Bragg should resign, NOW!" he wrote.

Americans gathered outside Trump Tower in New York City on Monday told Fox News what they thought about the fairness of the upcoming trial for former President Donald Trump.

Fox News’ Bryan Llenas reports on former President Donald Trump adding white collar defense attorney Todd Blanche to his legal team Monday ahead of Tuesday’s arraignment.

Former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy says Donald Trump’s new defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, has a ‘lot of experience’ in ‘document-intensive’ white collar defenses, which will be helpful in this ‘documents case.’

Donald Trump's new lawyer, Todd Blanche, represented Paul Manafort, left, in an indictment brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Blanche got Manafort's indictment dismissed. (Seth Wenig / Yuki Iwamura both via AP / File)

Donald Trump's new lawyer successfully got a criminal case against the former president's one-time campaign manager, Paul Manafort, dismissed in the same courthouse where Trump will face charges on Tuesday. 

Todd Blanche will be joining Trump's criminal defense team, which includes Brooklynite attorney Joe Tacopina.

"There is no lead," Tacopina told Fox News Digital. "We are one team, one family with one mission."

...

Manafort, Trump's one-time campaign manager, was convicted of a mortgage fraud scheme in federal court and sentenced to seven years in prison. 

Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows former President Donald Trump arriving back at his New York City home Monday afternoon ahead of his Tuesday arraignment. CREDIT: (GC Images/Getty)

The co-hosts of Fox News' "The Five" discuss former President Donald Trump arriving in New York ahead of his arraignment and the liberal media's reaction to his indictment. 

Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo and former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy give their take on the case against former President Trump on Fox News' "The Story."

Former President Donald Trump has tapped a prominent white-collar criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor as his lead counsel one day before his expected arraignment, raising questions about the timing of move and his legal strategy overseeing the former president's criminal indictment.

New York City attorney Todd Blanche announced Monday that he had joined Trump's legal team in an email to Politico, adding that he resigned from the prestigious law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, of which he was a partner, because he was "asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought/consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up."

Blanche will work alongside Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina, lawyers who've represented the former president throughout the investigation that resulted in the indictment.

Legal expert Mike Davis hailed the hiring of Blanche as "a great pick for President Trump," in an interview on Fox News later Monday, noting his previous representation of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Donald Trump and his 2024 White House campaign are quickly capitalizing on the former president’s indictment and Tuesday’s pending arraignment in New York City.

Adviser Jason Miller announced on Monday that the campaign had hauled in $7 million in fundraising since last Thursday, when Trump became the first former president in U.S. history to be charged with a crime.

Trump’s scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday for allegedly giving hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016 to keep her quiet ahead of that year’s presidential election over her claims she had sexual encounters years earlier with Trump. The former president denies sleeping with Daniels and denies falsifying business records to keep the payment concealed.

While the majority of Americans support the indictment of former President Donald Trump amid his 2024 presidential campaign, a new poll also revealed most individuals believe politics played a role in the investigation. 

While Trump was campaigning for president in 2016, his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, reportedly paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged 2006 affair. Trump allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the entirety of the payment, leading Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to open a years-long probe into the former president's past.

The former president was indicted Thursday and is expected to appear at an arraignment in New York on Tuesday.

Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York City on Monday. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Former President Donald Trump was photographed exiting his "Trump Force One" aircraft and, later, entering Trump Tower on Monday afternoon ahead of his expected court appearance in New York City this week.

The former president departed Palm Beach International Airport in south Florida en route to New York hours earlier. Shortly after Trump's motorcade left the airport, he was pictured waving to crowds outside Trump Tower in New York City before entering the building where he maintains a residence.

Alex Rodriguez seen walking near Trump Tower ahead of Trump's surrender in indictment case. (Ed Quinn)

Former New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez was spotted Monday outside of Trump Tower as crowds waited for the arrival of former President Trump, who will be arraigned in court on Tuesday.

A-Rod was seen walking in Manhattan near Trump Tower as press gathered outside to catch Trump's arrival.

It's unclear why A-Rod was in Manhattan by Trump Tower. Representatives for A-Rod did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks with the media following a community town hall to promote COVID-19 vaccinations in Mountain Home, Arkansas, on July 16, 2021. (Liz Sanders/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Unlike his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, Asa Hutchinson is urging former President Donald Trump to drop out of the 2024 race and deal with his mounting legal issues.

That's advice the former president isn’t taking.

"Obviously that’s his choice and he’s not going to do it. That’s his right," Hutchinson said Monday in a Fox News Digital interview.

Hutchinson emphasized his view that "the office of the presidency is more important than any one person," and that while Trump has "the presumption of innocence… what he faces is very distracting."

But Hutchinson, a former two-term Arkansas governor who announced on Sunday that he’s launching a GOP presidential campaign and that he’ll formally declare his candidacy at an event in his home state later this month, said, "I fully expect him [Trump] to be in the mix as a candidate through all the primaries and the voters are going to have a decision to make."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a 2024 election campaign rally in Waco, Texas, March 25, 2023. - Trump held the rally at the site of the deadly 1993 standoff between an anti-government cult and federal agents. ((Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images))

Former President Trump on Monday hired white collar defense attorney Todd Blanche to be part of his legal team ahead of his Tuesday arraignment in New York City, Fox News Digital has learned.

Blanche, a former partner at Cawalader, Wickersham & Taft, will serve as a defense attorney in the case brought against the former president by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Blanche joins Trump defense attorney Joe Tacopina and other lawyers working on the case for Trump.

The source told Fox News Digital that Blanche will be "additional firepower" to the Trump legal team.

Blanche previously represented Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged as part of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in 2019, and pleaded guilty to foreign lobbying and witness tampering, as well as tax fraud and conspiracy.

Embattled former President Donald Trump is scheduled to turn himself in Tuesday to the Manhattan District’s Office and face a judge in the same courtroom where Harvey Weinstein was tried and convicted of rape.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan now occupies the 15th floor courtroom that once hosted jurist James Burke, who oversaw Weinstein’s 2020 trial and sentenced him to 23 years in prison.

Trump is expected to enter the courthouse through a side entrance at 1 Hogan Place — a section of the building that is not accessible to the public, according to a source familiar with the arrangements.

He will be processed then escorted to Merchan’s courtroom through a set of glass doors that lead into the public hallway on the 15th floor.

About 10 feet to the left is Merchan’s courtroom. A single pool photographer will likely be permitted to shoot Trump as he walks from the double doors to the courtroom.

The judge hasn’t decided yet whether he will allow a pool photographer to take pictures of Trump in the courtroom, the source said.

Trump will leave the courtroom using the same glass doors to reach the private section of the building  and then exit at 1 Hogan Place into a waiting vehicle.

The source stressed that the logistics remain fluid and may change.

Fox News' Bryan Llenas provides details on the expected schedule for former President Trump's arraignment in Manhattan.

Intent to defraud. Remember that phrase. You’re probably going to be hearing it a lot.

Here’s why. Even some of the most vigorous critics of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump have assumed that, technically, he is guilty of a petty offense – the New York misdemeanor of falsifying business records. 

Bragg's critics argue that this is an outrageous charge, not because Trump is innocent of falsifying records, but because Bragg would never bring suck a piddling charge against anyone but Trump. Bragg is an elected Democrat in the radical "progressive prosecutor" mold; his default setting is anti-enforcement, and he campaigned in blue, blue Manhattan by vowing to exploit the power of the DA’s office against Trump.

In the Stormy Daniels caper, Trump’s then-"fixer" Michael Cohen laid out $130,000 to get the porn star (whose real name is Stephanie Clifford) to agree to remain silent about an affair she claims to have had with Trump in 2006. There is nothing illegal about such a non-disclosure agreement; indeed, NDAs are a staple of civil litigation settlements and similar private arrangements. 

Former President Donald Trump is expected in a New York City court Tuesday to be arraigned after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured an indictment in connection with alleged hush payments to adult actress Stormy Daniels.

However, Bragg's pursuit of the former president, the first in history to be charged with a crime, comes as he faces criticism for far-left political policies perceived as soft on crime. Residents have been subjected to violent attacks, a trend seemingly relentless since COVID-19 hit the Big Apple in March 2020.

The plane of former US president Donald Trump takes off from Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 3, 2023. - Former US President Donald Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted, and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on the afternoon of April 4, 2023, before appearing before a judge as the first ever American president to face criminal charges. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Former President Trump’s plane "Trump Force One" hit the skies Monday afternoon as the former commander-in-chief travels to New York City for his arraignment.

Trump’s plane left the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport to fly to the Big Apple where the president will be arraigned after his Manhattan grand jury indictment for alleged hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal through his former attorney Michael Cohen.

Trump’s lawyers said on Sunday said he expects to make a motion to dismiss any charges stemming from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban tweeted out his support for former President Trump Monday ahead of his Tuesday court appearance, telling the president to "keep on fighting."

"Keep on fighting, Mr. President! We are with you, @realDonaldTrump," Orban tweeted, paired with a photo of the two shaking hands during an August 2022 meeting at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey, estate. Orban had traveled to the states to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas.

Orban has been vocal about his support for the former president in the past, with him being the first European leader to publicly endorse Trump’s presidential candidacy in 2016. The Hungarian prime minister also voiced his support for Trump's 2020 run.

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump's motorcade arrived at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida a little before 1:00 p.m. Monday in preparation for Trump's flight to New York City.

Trump left his Florida home Monday and plans to surrender to authorities in New York and face criminal charges stemming from alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump is expected to stay in Trump Tower Monday evening before heading to the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning for his arraignment.

Eric Trump stands near the plane of former U.S. President Donald Trump, at the Palm Beach International Airport, after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 3, 2023. REUTERS/Marco Bello

Former President Trump’s plane "Trump Force One" is being prepared for takeoff as the former commander-in-chief prepares to travel to New York City for his arraignment.

Trump’s plane is sitting on the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport ahead of his flight to the Big Apple where the president will be arraigned after his Manhattan grand jury indictment for alleged hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal through his former attorney Michael Cohen.

Trump’s lawyers said on Sunday said he expects to make a motion to dismiss any charges stemming from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell held a briefing Monday regarding security preps for former President Donald Trump's arraignment. 

"Control yourselves," Adams said at City Hall. "New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. We are the safest large city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City. And although we have no specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, says she's coming to town. While you in town be on your best behavior. As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if one is caught participating in any act of violence, they will be arrested and held accountable no matter who you are." 

"As you all know and all aware, Donald Trump will be in New York City tonight through tomorrow. His presence is expected to draw a lot of attention from media, spectators and protesters alike," Deputy Mayor Philip Banks said at the press conference happening at City Hall. "New York City, as always, will be prepared. The NYPD and our entire public safety apparatus always prepared. We are working closely with all of our partners to ensure everyone's safety tomorrow. And we are asking for the public's help as well in maintaining a safe environment that allows New Yorkers to continue their day to day lives with minimal interruption and is always neither dangerous nor criminal behavior will be tolerated."

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Eric Trump, the son of Former President Donald Trump was seen giving the thumbs up to reporters from the back seat of an SUV on the way to the Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Former president Trump is expected to depart his Florida home around noon Monday and head to New York ahead of his arraignment on Tuesday in the case revolving around alleged hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump is expected to stay at Trump tower Monday night before heading to the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning, where his arraignment is expected to start shortly after 2 p.m. From there, the former president plans to travel back to his Florida home and deliver remarks, though it is unclear what Trump will say amid speculation from legal experts that there may be a "gag order" limiting his ability to discuss the case.

Executive Director of Right on Crime Brett Tolman on the Trump indictment and what to expect from the case.

Former President Donald Trump's lawyer said Sunday he expects to make a motion to dismiss any charges brought by a Manhattan grand jury in District Attorney Alvin Bragg's probe. 

"We will take the indictment. We will dissect it. The team will look at every, every potential issue that we will be able to challenge, and we will challenge. And of course, I very much anticipate a motion to dismiss coming because there's no law that fits this," Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina told CNN host Dana Bash Sunday. 

"And you have a situation where, you know, the federal government, the Department of Justice, turned this matter down," Tacopina continued on CNN's "State of the Union." "The FEC, which governs federal election laws, said there's no violation here. Yet somehow a state prosecutor has taken a misdemeanor and tried cobble together to make it a felony by alleging a violation of federal campaign violations. And the FEC said that doesn't exist."

Former President Donald Trump is expected to stay at Trump Tower in New York City for at least one night before surrendering himself to authorities. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

New York police are already erecting barricades around Trump Tower in anticipation of former President Trump's surrender to authorities sometime this week.

NYPD officers have also blocked roads around both Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, where the former president is expected to appear. While police say there have been no threats to the city, the preparations come following Trump's call to supporters last month, urging them to "protest" and "take our nation back" in the event of his arrest.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has offered support to the NYPD, saying she could deploy the National Guard or other assets. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the department is no stranger to handling such protests.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has offered support to the NYPD, saying she could deploy the National Guard or other assets. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the department is no stranger to handling such protests.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell will hold a press conference at noon Monday as the city braces for the arrival and arraignment of Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to reporting from the New York Daily News.

Security for Tuesday's arraignment is expected to be tight, with extensive security around the building while everyone in the courtroom will be searched twice.

Former US President Donald Trump sits in the rear of his limousine as he departs Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 1, 2023. - Trump is expected to surrender to the authorities in New York on April 4, 2023 to face charges over a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Former President Donald Trump is departing his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida Monday morning ahead of his Tuesday arraignment in New York City.

The former President is expected to stay at Trump tower Monday evening before heading to the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning for the legal proceedings.

Trump is expected to arrive at the New York City courthouse at 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, hours ahead of his scheduled arraignment in front of Judge Juan Merchan at 2:15 p.m. The proceedings are expected to take 15 to 30 minutes, with extensive security around the building expected to search everyone in the courtroom twice.

According to legal experts, Trump is likely to be fingerprinted and will take a mug shot, but there is not expected to be a "perp walk" or public arrival for security reasons. Trump is also unlikely to be handcuffed as a result of an arrangement made between the former president's legal team and the district attorney's office.

The details of the indictment of the former president are still under seal but are expected to relate to alleged 2016 "hush money" payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, which the DA's office has been investigation for five years.

After the proceedings, Trump has already announced that he plans to travel back to his Florida home to deliver remarks later Tuesday evening.

However, exactly what Trump will be able to say in those remarks is still a mystery, with some legal experts arguing he is likely to be under a "gag order" following the arraignment.