Trump Indictment: Security Plans Ready In NJ, Murphy Says

NEW JERSEY — NJ officials have security plans for any protests that percolate amid former president Donald J. Trump’s court appearance in New York City, said Gov. Murphy.

The 45th president of the United States arrived in New York City on Monday to face charges related to a 2016 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan court Tuesday. Follow updates — Trump's NYC Arraignment: Live Updates On Historic Hearing

"No one is above the law, as unprecedented as this may be," Murphy said in a weekend appearance on CNN.

“We just need to let this process play itself out, and God willing, that’s what we’ll see,” he told CNN's Fredericka Whitfield. Murphy said officials will be “preemptive” in preparing for any large-scale security issues, the report said.

"We don't typically talk about specific security provisions," Murphy continued, "but obviously because it is so unprecedented, we will absolutely be preemptive in making certain that we are doing all the groundwork that you would hope that we'd do, and hopefully we'll see a peaceful day play out."

The reported hush-money payment came on the eve of the 2016 election through Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to charges relating to it and has said the former president reimbursed him through the Trump Organization.

A grand jury convened by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg handed down the historic indictment last week and made Trump the first ex-president to face criminal charges.

Judge Juan Merchan ruled no TV cameras will be allowed in the courtroom as the former president is arraigned on criminal charges and fingerprinted.

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• Trump Returns To NYC Ahead Of Historic Arraignment In Hush Money Case

Murphy alluded to security procedures in a CNN interview this weekend, but did not give specifics.

New Jersey State Police did not immediately return an inquiry Patch made on Tuesday about security preparations.

Also, former NJ Governor Chris Christie predicted “a very bad day for Donald Trump” in an appearance on ABC News this past weekend.

“You can’t make that a good day under any circumstances,” said Christie, who was appearing as part of a roundtable on “This Week.”

Christie said there may be some surprises when the official charges are released.

“Donald Trump doesn’t have to prove his innocence,” Christie said, “The government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he’s guilty.”

The New Jersey Republican Party decried Trump’s indictment in a statement Friday, saying Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg “has made a mockery of our justice system.”

“This clear abuse of power should be condemned by all Americans — regardless of party — who cherish the rule of law,” the state party said, calling the prosecution of the former president “politically-motivated.”

Christie also expressed doubt that Bragg should have brought charges against Trump in the first place on his ABC News appearance.

“With everything that’s going on in Manhattan from a crime perspective, you’re really spending all the resources of your office on this?” he questioned. “Is this really what was necessary?”

Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina said the former president wouldn’t plead guilty to lesser charges, even if it might resolve the case, according to the Associated Press.

Tacopina said he didn’t believe the case would ever make it to a jury, but added, “Really, there’s a lot of mystery here because we’re doing something that’s never been done before.”

This story contains reporting from Patch’s Matt Troutman in New York City.