New York prepares for possible unrest if Donald Trump is indicted

Law enforcement officials in New York on Tuesday continued preparing for possible unrest on the streets of Manhattan as a grand jury investigating Donald Trump over a hush money payment to the adult film-maker and star Stormy Daniels appeared poised to complete its work by criminally indicting the former president.

Barriers were brought to the area around the Manhattan criminal courthouse in the lower part of the island. Uniformed police were out in force. So were reporters and protesters.

Last weekend, Trump claimed without evidence he would be arrested on Tuesday. His representatives later said he was citing media reports and leaks and there was no indication his prediction would come true.

The grand jury did appear to take an important step on Monday by hearing from a witness favourable to Trump, presumably so prosecutors could ensure the panel had a chance to consider testimony that could be seen as exculpatory.

It was uncertain if more witnesses might be summoned. But authorities mindful of the deadly riot by Trump supporters at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 took steps to prepare for any violence that could accompany the unprecedented prosecution of a former president.

A telephoned bomb threat delayed a hearing in a separate case involving Trump, a $250m state civil suit over his business practices in another lower Manhattan court.

Informed sources expected a grand jury would vote on an indictment on Wednesday, with an announcement on Thursday or Friday. Trump is due to hold his first large-scale rally of the 2024 Republican primary in Waco, Texas, on Saturday. Media outlets reported a likely surrender to authorities in New York on Monday.

A Trump campaign insider told the Guardian on Monday Trump would not resist extradition from Florida to New York.

Costello advised Cohen after Cohen became entangled in a federal investigation into hush money payments to Daniels and another woman who claims an affair with Trump, the former Playboy model Karen McDougal, in 2018. Pleading guilty, Cohen said the payments were directed by Trump.

He became a vociferous Trump critic, testifying before Congress and the Manhattan grand jury. Trump, who denies having sex with either woman, has called Cohen a liar.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Costello said he came forward because he did not believe Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges including campaign finance violations related to the payments, and served time in prison, could be trusted.

The testimony came two days after Trump said he expected to be indicted and arrested and urged supporters to act, directing particularly hostile rhetoric towards Bragg. Trump claims Bragg is biased against him because he is a Democrat and because he is Black.