Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday afternoon for his first appearance in a historic criminal case against him.
Trump has been charged with 37 felony counts. The Justice Department said he hoarded top secret government documents, boastfully displayed them to visitors and tried to hide them from investigators who demanded them back.
Please check back for updates throughout the day.
10:11 a.m. | Road closures
Miami Police said Northwest First Avenue between Third Street and Fifth Street is closed until further notice.
“We strongly encourage commuters to avoid the area and seek alternate routes, if possible,” police said in a news release Tuesday morning.
Television video showed Miami police cars blocking the street.
On Monday, Mayor Francis Suarez had warned commuters to expect some disruptions.
Additional temporary closures are certain when Trump travels from his Doral golf resort to Miami early in the afternoon.
9:54 a.m. | Republican chair urges peaceful protests
Christian Ziegler, chair of the Republican Party of Florida endorsed protesting in Miami, but he urged his followers on social media to avoid violence.
He asserted that anything violent would play into the hands of the political left by making demonstrators look bad.
“Yes – Peacefully protesting to ensure that your voice & support is heard,” Ziegler wrote on Twitter.
“NO – Taking The Left’s bait by acting like an asshole & breaking laws. Be smart. Don’t give The Left what they want.”
9:45 a.m. | People start to gather
A small group of demonstrators began showing up around the Federal Courthouse in Miami by 7 a.m., according to television reports. Some included protest veterans who show up for events all over South Florida where they’re likely to encounter protestors.
Others were dressed to garner the maximum media attention, including a man wearing prison stripes and holding a “lock him up sign.” He was also present with the same outfit and sign on Monday. Trump supporters included a person wearing an “I love Trump!” hat.
Television news helicopter video after 9 a.m. showed a large continent of media representatives and a line of people waiting to get in the courthouse.
Law enforcement agencies, and police dogs, already were keeping watch.
9 a.m. | Trump in DoralTrump spent Monday night at the golf club he owns in Doral, where news accounts said he was interviewing additional lawyers to join his legal team.He describes his Mar-a-Lago resort and club in Palm Beach — where the indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House — as his home.But Trump doesn’t typically spend the hot summer season there, staying instead at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. After the court proceedings Tuesday, he’s planning to return to Bedminster for an evening speech and fundraiser.
This report contains information from the Associated Press.
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