Trump insists “there was no crime, period” and says Manhattan prosecutors should be investigated

Donald Trump claims his complete innocence and isn’t buying the narrative from some Republicans who are defending him by saying that his alleged hush-hush payments to Stormy Daniels are a “misdemeanor” at best.

The former president said Sunday there was “no crime” and flipped the script at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, demanding that Democratic prosecutors be investigated for “interference” in the presidential election.

Prosecutors argue that he violated a New York law prohibiting falsifying business records when he flagged Daniels’ $130,000 as “legal expenses.”

Trump said he expects to be arrested Tuesday in New York state on charges related to a payment he made before the 2016 presidential election.

Meanwhile, the White House claims it is not preparing for any violence as a fallout from a possible indictment this week — and the former president urged his supporters to “protest, protest, protest.”

Former President Donald Trump has insisted he is not guilty of any crimes in a post on Truth Social Sunday. He is pictured here waving at the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships on Saturday

In his lengthy post Sunday, Trump attacked Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg

“We’re always monitoring the situation here, as best we can,” said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby during an interview with Fox News Sunday.

He added, “Obviously we don’t want to see any activity turn violent – certainly nothing to the extent that we saw on January 6.” ‘But we’re watching this. We are watching it, of course, very closely.

In his lengthy post on Sunday, Trump attacked Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg, who is expected to file criminal charges against the former president within the coming days.

He also blamed President Joe Biden for standing behind the investigation and possible imminent indictment.

“When Alvin Bragg first took office, he made it clear that, like many other attorneys general, there would be no case against Donald J. Trump,” he wrote. Then the Biden administration, the Democrats, and the fake news media started pushing him and pushing him hard, and he said there might be a case after all.

“I knew what that meant – he was pushed to do something that shouldn’t be done,” Trump claimed. “He was not willing to confront Soros and the Marxists who are destroying our country!”

Then, in a follow-up message, Trump insisted, “There was no crime, period.”

“All the other Democratic law enforcement officers who’ve looked into it, they took a pass,” he noted. So did Cy Vance and Bragg. But much later [sic]. He changed his mind. Gee, wonder why?

At that point, Trump accused Bragg of “prosecuting misconduct” and “election interference,” and also called for an investigation into the Bragg investigation.

The New York City DA had earlier given evidence to a New York jury about the $130,000 payment to Daniels for her silence about an alleged affair.

The payment was listed as “legal expenses” that Bragg’s office says are a violation of New York law prohibiting falsifying business records.

Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations, accusing his attorney Daniels — whose real name is Stephanie Clifford — of extortion.

However, he refused to testify before the grand jury in his case.

Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg is reportedly close to indicting the ex-boss over hush money payments he made to Stormy Daniels

Daniels came forward to discuss the case, detailing how she received $130,000 from the Trump campaign

Former President Trump urged his supporters to ‘protest’ as he claimed he expected to be arrested early Tuesday

Supporters of the former president, including some of his 2024 Republican primary challengers, claim the charges against Trump would be a “misdemeanor.” They say he is being treated only harshly because Trump is the leading voice in the opposition party to those in power in New York and the White House.

Trump pleaded not guilty to any crime, not even a misdemeanor, on Sunday, as he blasted “prosecution misconduct and election interference.”

He urged “investigators to investigate”.

His posts come as White House officials claim they are not preparing for any riots if the former president is arrested.

When asked if people in the White House were concerned about any security concerns in Washington, D.C. this week, Kirby replied, “I’m not aware of any indications that we’re preparing for this type of activity specifically in relation to these comments.” “.

“But obviously we’re working alongside local and state authorities across the country and we’ll continue to watch this as best we can,” added Fox News Sunday host Mike Emanuel.

Kirby said they are monitoring the situation closely and hope it remains peaceful if there are protests.

National Security Adviser John Kirby said there are no indications that the White House is preparing for a massive riot

Trump previously claimed on his Truth Social platform that he expects to be arrested early Tuesday as he called on his supporters to “protest, take back our nation.”

Many have already heeded that advice, planning to create a trench around Mar-a-Lago in South Florida to prevent his arrest while others gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Now the NYPD is said to be preparing to deploy its “Strategic Response Group,” which has 700 members trained in “disaster control.”

If necessary, officials said, they could escalate the situation by deploying a Level 4 alert — which would put eight police officers and one sergeant on standby in each precinct across New York City.

But talk to Fox News Sunday, National Security Adviser John Kirby said there are no indications that the White House is preparing for a massive riot.

When asked if he was concerned about security, Kirby replied, “I’m not aware of any indications that we’re preparing for this type of activity, specifically, in relation to these comments.

“But we’re obviously working hand in hand with local and state authorities across the country, and we’ll continue to watch this as best we can.”

“We always monitor the situation here as best we can,” he continued. And obviously we don’t want to see any activity turn violent, certainly nothing to the extent that we saw on January 6th, but we’re watching this. We will of course be watching it closely.

“We’ll want to know if there are protests of any kind on any issue, or quite frankly, not to mention this, that they’re peaceful.”

Supporters of the former president have already camped out at his home in Mar-a-Lago to prevent his arrest

Others gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan during the St. Patrick’s Day parade

Trump supporters gathered on a street corner Saturday outside the Bank of Korea Center ahead of an expected visit from Trump

Protesters interact with a group holding pro-Donald Trump and MAGA signs in Manhattan