Trump says ‘illegal leaks’ indicate he will be arrested Tuesday in New York in a money-silencing case

Former President Donald Trump said on Saturday that “illegal leaks” indicated he would be arrested on Tuesday and urged supporters to protest.

Trump, in posts on his social media platform Truth Social, cited reports that he could soon face possible New York City criminal charges related to paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump did not say whether he was briefed by law enforcement about the pending indictment. A spokesman for Trump later clarified in a statement that “there were no notices other than illegal leaks from the Justice Department and the District Attorney’s office to NBC” and other news outlets.

The spokesman added: “President Trump rightly emphasizes his innocence and the weaponization of our system of injustice. He’s coming to Texas next weekend for a giant rally. Let’s make America great again!”

On Friday, NBC News reported that law enforcement was preparing for a possible indictment of Trump as early as next week.

Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, denounced “illegal leaks” that “indicate” he will be arrested on Tuesday.

“PROTEST, RETURN OUR PEOPLE!” Trump wrote.

On Saturday, Republicans came to Trump’s defense and criticized the New York investigation, although most of them did not support his desire for street protests. Later that day, he stepped up his calls for demonstrations by writing in another Truth Social post, “WE HAVE TO SAVE AMERICA! PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, D-GA, tweeted, “We don’t need to protest,” adding, “These idiots will decide their fate in 2024.”

Trump denies any wrongdoing and called the investigation by Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office an extension of a partisan “witch hunt” against him. He also accused Bragg, who is black, of being “racist”.

A spokesman for Bragg’s office declined to comment on Trump’s Truth Social posts.