Mayor of New York City Warns Donald Trump Supporters Ahead of Indictment: Be on Your Best Behavior

JAKARTA - New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned supporters of Donald Trump that he will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone who violates the law, as a form of protest against the charges that will be read out against the former United States president.

Trump heads to New York on Monday and is scheduled to face an impeachment hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday. He is the first former US president to face criminal charges, following his indictment in a grand jury investigation into hush money paid to a porn star.

Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, has branded the investigation a witch hunt, urging his supporters to take to the streets.

Earlier, his supporters stormed the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021, in a deadly riot, after he falsely claimed to have won the 2020 Presidential Election

Reflecting on that, Adams warned Trump supporters against violence Tuesday, saying the city is "not a playground for... misplaced anger."

"While we have no specific threat, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene have stated that she is coming to town. While you are in town, be on your best behavior," the Democratic mayor said, cited from Reuters, April 4.

Greene's spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. The Republican US congresswoman from Georgia said on Twitter on Sunday her protest would be lawful and she rejected anyone inciting or committing violence. Greene said that he would lead a pro-Trump protest in a park near the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday.

Mayor Adams said the New York City Police Department had not received credible threats regarding the charges, but would increase security on public transportation and increase police presence around the Manhattan courthouse, where Trump will be charged in anticipation of possible rioting.

Roads around the city will be closed on Tuesday, the mayor continued.

Meanwhile, a court official said the courtroom on an upper floor of the courthouse would close shortly before Trump's indictment at 2:15 p.m. local time.

Prior to voting against Trump, the jury heard evidence about a $130.000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The actress says she was paid to keep quiet about a sexual relationship she had with Trump in 2006, while Donald Trump denies having had sexual relations with her.