In the wake of another politically charged indictment against former President Trump, the Secret Service is issuing a warning a day before the president is due in court on order from special counsel Jack Smith.
“There may be short term traffic implications due to protected movements so please monitor this account and @DCPoliceTraffic for latest info," USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi tweeted.
Reports note that security details are already underway in the DC area following Smith’s 45-page, four-count indictment against Trump. The Secret Service is expecting both protesters supporting Trump and anti-Trump protesters to be the scene.
“While the Secret Service does not comment on specific protective means or methods, we have the utmost confidence in the dedication and commitment to security shared by all of our law enforcement and government partners," Guglielmi’s statement read.
Statement on DC security preparations for Thursday. There may be short term traffic implications due to protectee movements so please monitor this account and @DCPoliceTraffic for latest info. pic.twitter.com/fDc9UbnWmQ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) August 2, 2023
He ensured they are working hard to ensure the privacy and protections of the former president, and to keep disruptions to the normal court process at a minimum.
While Trump’s court appearances in Manhattan and Miami regarding his two previous indictments have featured heavy opposition against the political witch hunt attacking the former president, the mostly Democrat-run city of D.C. is expecting to present the most challenging environment for security and law enforcement yet.
Trump is due in court on Thursday before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya, while U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Obama, will oversee Trump's case and a potential trial.
Unlike Trump’s previous indictment case where Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon oversaw one of his cases, Chutkan is known for handing down prison sentences in Jan. 6 cases.
On a separate occasion, Chutkan has ruled against Trump regarding a Jan. 6 case in November, 2021. She denied his request to block the release of documents to the House's Jan. 6 select committee by asserting executive privilege, rejecting the president’s claims he could hold privilege over documents from his administration even after President Joe Biden had cleared the way for the National Archives to turn the papers over.
