live from london. this is bbc news. drama in new york — donald trump is due in court in less than two hours — to face criminal charges — we're there live. this is the scene in manhattan — tight security outside the courthouse — where the former president will appear in the next few hours. here in the next 30 minutes we will talk to a former federal prosecutor and our correspondents in new york we will be watching all of the life pictures and we will chart the movements of the former president in this, the final countdown for that court appearance.

hello and welcome. less tha n less than two hours before we expect donald trump making that unprecedented appearance in court in manhattan to become the first burton who served as a us president to face criminal charges. let me take you through the light pictures coming m, in, so many in, so many cameras in, so many cameras being pointed at different elements and aspects of this story in new york. the helicopter first charting every bit of the movement that we will see from the former president from trump tower on fifth avenue to the courthouse itself. there at trump tower where the former president has been holed up with his legal team, we were hearing from gary 0'donoghue a short while ago talk about a late minute bid from the legal team to move the trial out of manhattan

perhaps to staten island. that request likely to go in and those are pictures from the helicopter of the park opposite the courthouse. we have also been showing pictures on the grounds it we will get that in the grounds it we will get that in the moment. that park is where people who are supporting donald trump, they have come to new york and protesters there as well for stabile be seen pictures of them effectively behind barricades but eyeballing each other across the way with police between them. so protesters and supporters there in numbers. large numbers of security also there on standby. we heard from the mayor, anyone coming to new york to behave themselves. both to the protesters and supporters, but also to named politicians. in terms of any worries about stirring up crowds, of course they don't want

any repetition of the january six in any shape orform any repetition of the january six in any shape or form there any repetition of the january six in any shape orform there in new any repetition of the january six in any shape or form there in new york. but we watched pictures from the helicopter on the grounds we have our correspondent, you are describing to me little earlier that you saw nothing like this in the years you have covered a whole variety of stories politics in otherwise in new york. that's absolutely right. new yorkers are use to so much here. and usually brush off, whether it be filming for a film sets, other security issues, we have seen so many high—profile trials here, but there has been nothing like this and several new yorkers, passer buyersjust nothing like this and several new yorkers, passer buyers just curious walking back have all been cocking and reacting in shock to the sheer seen here in lower manhattan. —— talking. there are news crews and

cameras aligning blocks on either side of this courthouse and while there has not been massive protests we do see the park right in front of the criminal courts starting to fill up the criminal courts starting to fill up with people who want to have their voices heard. we know obviously that the likes of marjorie taylor greene, a congresswoman who is from the far right who is a part of donald trump's orbit, purposely came here to new york so that donald trump's supporters would join her in a show of force. 0thers trump's supporters would join her in a show of force. others who are against the president have been on the other sides of the barricades trying to shout her down and drown out her message. so it is quite a spectacle here in lower manhattan. i don't know if you can see behind me, just how fortified this area has become. donald trump may no longer become. donald trump may no longer be president, but there are still very serious security concerns. while the nypd, new york's mayor,

say they have seen no credible threat, of course this is a place that has to be prepared for anything. pd is always ready tojump in with extra support if needed. but i have never seen this type of police presence outside of a courthouse. we have barricades blocking off traffic, for pedestrians, i've seen secret service officers here because they of course are working as federal agents alongside the nypd, alongside us marshals at the courthouse to secure this area. they have been trolling with sniffer docs just to make sure everything is safe. as i was walking from the front to the back of the court, along with others, nypd was hustling us along, not wanting us to hang around the area, saying keep it moving, keep it moving. they are clearly on edge today wanting everything to remain peaceful and orderly. that is what we have seen. that has certainly been the case. looking at the sheer amount of planning and resources that have gone into today, for such

a brief court appearance, rarely speaks volumes i think about where the country is at this moment. you talked about _ the country is at this moment. you talked about people being on edge today but of course that has been going on for a number of hours, seeing that with what you reference the mayor of new york in that very, very clear warning to people coming to new york. i know it wasn't yesterday evening but i want to take the chance to display that again. for viewers who have made missed it. though we have no specific threat, people _ though we have no specific threat, pe0ple like — though we have no specific threat, people like marjorie taylor greene who is_ people like marjorie taylor greene who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, she has stated _ misinformation and hate speech, she has stated she is coming to town. while _ has stated she is coming to town. while you — has stated she is coming to town. while you are in time be on your best_ while you are in time be on your best behaviour. as always, we will not allow — best behaviour. as always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind _ not allow violence or vandalism of any kind and if one is caught participating in any act of violence, they will be arrested and held accountable.— held accountable. interesting listeninu held accountable. interesting

listening to — held accountable. interesting listening to that. _ held accountable. interesting listening to that. as - held accountable. interesting listening to that. as you - held accountable. interesting listening to that. as you are l listening to that. as you are referencing, this crowds they have come but it is pretty orderly at the moment. just take us through where the former president currently is, one assumes he is with his legal team and we were reporting that he has added to that legal team overnight with a former prosecutor. a real mix and blends of the defence team. , , ., , ., a real mix and blends of the defence team. , , ., i. ., a real mix and blends of the defence team. , ., .,, , ., team. just to give you a sense of, when i was _ team. just to give you a sense of, when i was at _ team. just to give you a sense of, when i was at trump _ team. just to give you a sense of, when i was at trump tower - team. just to give you a sense of, when i was at trump tower when | when i was at trump tower when donald trump arrived we understood he would be staying in, in meetings with his legal team. i actually passed allina hub on the street as she was on the way to see donald trump. she is a member of the legal team that normally focuses on the civil cases against him. like that from the trunk organisations tax fraud trial, but there she was, joining that team. we know donald trump has a close circle of people

that he trusts, but then again it is donald trump. he does not always take advice given to him. nevertheless, it felt like it was a all hands on deck moment i sigh. as he mentioned, that new lawyer who is a federal prosecutor with a white—collar experience, he hasjust been added in. so clearly, it is because they feel they can benefit from his expertise in this area as they prepare to fight in this trial. so that is exactly what donald trump's lawyers have said that he is planning to do, he will plead not guilty and he will viciously fight this case. he has always maintained his innocence and maintained that he never had a affair with stormy daniels and that while he did reimburse michael cohen for that $130,000 hush money payment, he denies that it had anything to do with his concern about the election and that his company did not

illegally list that in the box. is what all of this is about, this is ultimately a case on donald trump falsifying business records to conceal a crime. i thinkjust that sense of how many people are around him, advisers from the campaign who started working immediately when the indictment news broke, really he is devoting all of his resources to this. i think what will be interesting to see is if, this idea perhaps that the judge would issue a 939 perhaps that the judge would issue a gag order because we have seen some dangerous rhetoric coming from donald trump's campaign, and images that were removed showing donald trump next alvin bragg holding a bat, frederick calling him basically saying that he is trying to destroy the country and influence the election, this is a witch hunt. so i wonder if thejudge election, this is a witch hunt. so i wonder if the judge will take issue with some of that in order donald trump to not discuss this case.

donald trump is famously unpredictable —— unpredictable so i think will be interesting to see what comments he has later at mara largo and perhaps here in new york if he chooses to address price when he leaves the courtroom. interesting ou would he leaves the courtroom. interesting you would talk— he leaves the courtroom. interesting you would talk about _ he leaves the courtroom. interesting you would talk about michael - he leaves the courtroom. interesting you would talk about michael cohen | you would talk about michael cohen and we will come back to his former lawyer and fixer in a moment or two, but it is interesting because you were talking about the hush money payments to stormy daniels, but when the attorney general took over this case the focus on the investigation that was running then was around whether donald trump had lied about the net worth and the new attorney general looked at it, reassessed all documents, there were resignations from his own team, frustrated by faith pivoted as to what has been described as the zombie case, hush money payments from 2016 and the call it that because it keeps calling the limit coming back to

life and that is what they have landed on in terms of the indictment.— landed on in terms of the indictment. ., , ., ._ , , indictment. there was always these two different _ indictment. there was always these two different threats _ indictment. there was always these two different threats to _ indictment. there was always these two different threats to the - indictment. there was always these two different threats to the donald | two different threats to the donald trump investigations, looking at whether he broke new york state laws, the first about whether his company inflated assets to get favourable loan terms, but separately this hush money payment this $130,000 payment that was logged as legal expenses in their books. we note cyrus vance said that federal prosecutors were the ones ultimately who secured a plea deal for michael cohen, spent time in prison on very similar charges on the hush money payment. we know that federal prosecutors told cyrus vance to drop that investigation. donald trump was in office at the time, was president, the guidance was that the department ofjustice did not go after a sitting president even after he left office, this hovered around him and many got the sense that it was not going to come back to bite

him. but then we heard that after alvin bragg secured a victory in november against the trump organisation in a tax fraud case, then he took a second look at the hush money payments. he thought to himself, can we win in a jury trial? does, is the evidence strong enough? given the success of the trump organisation trial, which did rely on testimony from his former chief financial officer, but very limited testimony because remember allen weisselberg has been very reluctant to betray his long—time boss. the case really centred around financial documents and i think that is what so many are waiting to see. we have heard from michael cohen's lawyer saying that this case does not rests just on michael cohen. someone, some republicans have attacked as someone as someone who has perjured himself and as an unreliable witness and if the case were —— rests on him no jury the case were —— rests on him no jury will convict donald trump. but

what we have heard from michael cohen's lawyer is that alvin bragg has thousands and thousands of other pieces of evidence. to this indictment willjust, when it's unsealed, give us a basic outline of charges, will not go into detail what evidence there is but in the coming months, we will get a better sense of charges, will not go into detail what evidence there is but in the coming months, we will get a better sense about. 5m? the coming months, we will get a better sense about.— the coming months, we will get a better sense about. stay there, nada tawfik and we — better sense about. stay there, nada tawfik and we will— better sense about. stay there, nada tawfik and we will discuss _ better sense about. stay there, nada tawfik and we will discuss more - better sense about. stay there, nada tawfik and we will discuss more of. tawfik and we will discuss more of everything surrounding that court appearance in a moment. i want to to spend the next few minutes reflecting on some of the wider implications of donald trump's appearance in court to face criminal charges. first time that that has happened, a president here is our analysis editor.— happened, a president here is our analysis editor. ross atkins. donald trum has analysis editor. ross atkins. donald trump has faced _ analysis editor. ross atkins. donald trump has faced an _ analysis editor. ross atkins. donald trump has faced an array _ analysis editor. ross atkins. donald trump has faced an array of- analysis editor. ross atkins. donald| trump has faced an array of criminal investigations before. but he has never— investigations before. but he has never been charged. that though, is about— never been charged. that though, is about to _ never been charged. that though, is about to change. the reason why connects — about to change. the reason why connects to — about to change. the reason why connects to stephanie clifford, a former— connects to stephanie clifford, a former adult film star better known as stormy — former adult film star better known as stormy daniels and she said that

her insomnia trump had an affair in 2006— her insomnia trump had an affair in 2006 something that he denies. xp fast ten _ 2006 something that he denies. xp fast ten years and bring in trump's then iawyer— fast ten years and bring in trump's then lawyer michael cohen because he is now— then lawyer michael cohen because he is now part _ then lawyer michael cohen because he is now part of the story. just before — is now part of the story. just before the 2016 presidential election, he paid stormy daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the affair~ _ $130,000 to keep quiet about the affair. doing so is not a legal in america. — affair. doing so is not a legal in america, but after donald trump, personally— america, but after donald trump, personally reimposed —— reimbursed michaei— personally reimposed —— reimbursed michael cohen that payment was recorded — michael cohen that payment was recorded as being for legal reasons. prosecutors — recorded as being for legal reasons. prosecutors think that constitutes as falsifying business records and breaking — as falsifying business records and breaking election laws as well. i should _ breaking election laws as well. i should say, donald trump denies that incest _ should say, donald trump denies that incest the _ should say, donald trump denies that incest the whole thing is witchhunt. but what _ incest the whole thing is witchhunt. but what could happen if he were found _ but what could happen if he were found guilty. depending on the church— found guilty. depending on the church is— found guilty. depending on the church is a fine is by far the most likely— church is a fine is by far the most likely outcome butjill church is a fine is by far the most likely outcome but jill is church is a fine is by far the most likely outcome butjill is possible, but unlikely. you might be thinking can trump— but unlikely. you might be thinking can trump still run for president?

the answer— can trump still run for president? the answer to that is yes because being _ the answer to that is yes because being charged does not change that norwood _ being charged does not change that norwood being convicted. of course both scenarios may impact his campaign. trump is facing other investigations, the fbi continuing to investigate his handling of classified documents some from its offices _ classified documents some from its offices in _ classified documents some from its offices in florida. ajustice department investigation into efforts— department investigation into efforts to overturn the 20/20 election _ efforts to overturn the 20/20 election including the capital rights — election including the capital rights. though not clear if mr trump is a focus _ rights. though not clear if mr trump is a focus here. then there is also what is _ is a focus here. then there is also what is happening in georgia. a criminal— what is happening in georgia. a criminal infestation into whether donald _ criminal infestation into whether donald trump interfered in the 2020 eiection— donald trump interfered in the 2020 election results there. —— investigation. so not a moment of legal— investigation. so not a moment of legal and — investigation. so not a moment of legal and politicaljeopardy for legal and political jeopardy for donald — legal and politicaljeopardy for donald trump but there may be more of those _ donald trump but there may be more of those to— donald trump but there may be more of those to come. so there is now --. talking about some of the implications — --. talking about some of the implications but _ --. talking about some of the implications but so _ --. talking about some of the implications but so much - --. talking about some of the implications but so much to i --. talking about some of the - implications but so much to actually learn the next couple of hours when

those proceedings actually get under way. we are not far from the president making thatjourney from trump tower to the courthouse. then of course, all of those proceedings get under way. we have the arrest, first draw and then the processing, we will have fingerprints, will move mugshots be released? but we know there will not actually be any film or footage with in the courtroom itself but there still will be pictures. we know that there are cameras in the quarters so will the former president speak to those cameras? certainly that is a prospect and to see. so much to learn about the nature about the indictment. we have had guests constantly reflecting that so much of the detail in those indictments, the charges themselves, that is a critical part of today and the

implications that our correspondent was talked about there in that piece. i want to show you the map of the journey ahead piece. i want to show you the map of thejourney ahead in piece. i want to show you the map of the journey ahead in the next little while because donald trump will travel to the courthouse in manhattan by car, we think. and as the former president will be escorted by secret service orifices attached to him celeste take you to that. —— officers. it starts here at trump tower on fifth avenue. hopefully our graphic will actually show you that. hopefully. he will then go to the court building on centre street in lower manhattan. there is, the graphic catching up with of the details taking you through and itjust takes you to the courthouse itself, that gray tall building and the centre. that is about three and half miles as the crow flies from trump tower. in a civil saying he will be accompanied

by presidential security. it will likely take about 15

let me take you through what he is posted on truth social. additionally he goes on the highly partisanjudge and his additionally he goes on the highly partisan judge and his family are well known trump eaters. he was an

unfair disaster on a previous trump —related case and would not recuse and gave horrible jury —related case and would not recuse and gave horriblejury instructions and gave horriblejury instructions and a possible to deal with during the witchhunt trial. —— impossible to deal with. so there are just some of the allegations against the judge and to the process, echoing what gary, our correspondent told us a little earlier. that he anticipated the late bid to actually get the trial moved from manhattan to staten island. where there is little more republican support. unfortunately, i suppose for donald trump, he's making that request to the judge, that he goes on in that same tweet to talk about being a trump hater and the rest of those comments i just read out. so one thinks that is entirely possible that that request will be thrown out quickly. let's go

back to nada tawfik. reading out the post of the former president, what you were talking about earlier, the twin strategy of attack and delay. they see quite a few lines of attack. . �* , �* ~ , attack. that's right. and i kept thinkina attack. that's right. and i kept thinking to _ attack. that's right. and i kept thinking to myself, _ attack. that's right. and i kept thinking to myself, donald - attack. that's right. and i kept. thinking to myself, donald trump attack. that's right. and i kept- thinking to myself, donald trump has had a very low—key presence last night staying in at trump tower, while his social media posts really pointed to quite a different story. itjust pointed to quite a different story. it just showed pointed to quite a different story. itjust showed how pointed to quite a different story. it just showed how angry he pointed to quite a different story. itjust showed how angry he is at this case against him. so he has used that platform to again, attack. the prosecutor in this case, the judge in this case and the entirety of new york city, despite this being a place where he, quite frankly, built his real estate empire and work he always dreamed of making it big. his politics has quickly made him somewhat of a pariah here. so after he left the white house, he

decided to move his residency to florida. he decided to leave new york because he did not like the fact that he was no longer welcome here. again because of his politics. so i think again, the fact that he is going after the entire city itself and all of the officials here, going so far to say that the prosecutors should be focusing on crime in new york rather than this type of case. these are the attacks me of her time and time again and thatis me of her time and time again and that is why the new york mayor eric adams making the point that new york is the safest city in america. so i think those attacks by donald trump will certainly continue for some it has been his political and legal strategy and he feels as if he can get get ahead of the narrative out there, we saw him posting about his arrest even before he knew it was going to happen. his strategy has always get out in front and show his face that he is fighting for them

that he is a fighter and that he is strong. —— base. . it that he is a fighter and that he is strong. -- base. ._ that he is a fighter and that he is strong. -- base. . it is interesting in terms of— strong. -- base. . it is interesting in terms of tactics _ strong. -- base. . it is interesting in terms of tactics but _ strong. -- base. . it is interesting in terms of tactics but we - strong. -- base. . it is interesting in terms of tactics but we were . strong. -- base. . it is interesting l in terms of tactics but we were just playing a piece, huge political implications politically in the us with of course the back drop to 2024. ., �* , with of course the back drop to 2024. . a , ., _ ., 2024. that's right. obviously for an one 2024. that's right. obviously for anyone who _ 2024. that's right. obviously for anyone who worried _ 2024. that's right. obviously for anyone who worried about - 2024. that's right. obviously for i anyone who worried about whether donald trump had too much baggage to be elected president again. he has already faced two impeachments, numerous special investigations with others still hovering. this could make them second—guess, if you look at independent or more moderate republicans. they couldn't pull votes away from him in the future perhaps going into the primary we will get a better sense that because 2024 is still a long way off. nevertheless, look at what we are

seeing at the moment with this case. when we know that there are far more serious cases that deal with donald trump's alleged attempt to overthrow the election, to fundamentally challenge the democracy of this country. those are investigations still ongoing but could have far—reaching consequences for donald trump. if prosecutors decide to pursue those cases. so republicans have tried to say, this is a case thatis have tried to say, this is a case that is all about consensual sex with a adult film star, we know that is actually about falsifying business records to conceal a crime but that is how they painted it. you would wonder how they would then strategize and what narrative they would use if donald trump is charged with a more serious crime. so i think so much is still uncertain about the upcoming months and the campaign for 2024 but certainly for republicans at the moment, concerned about angering donald trump's base,

we have seen even his challengers for the white house coming to his defence. relaying this idea that this case should never have been brought, that it is election interference. because donald trump remains the front runner here, he still has a very influential base within the republican party itself. so for a republican primary, that means a lot. when we are talking about a general election with a far wider electorate, we have seen donald trump lose the second presidential election not do well in the terms last year. but for a primary, still, he still has a decent shot especially with a crowded field of candidates. mada crowded field of candidates. nada tawfik, stay _ crowded field of candidates. nada tawfik, stay there _ crowded field of candidates. nada tawfik, stay there i _ crowded field of candidates. nada tawfik, stay there i will _ crowded field of candidates. nada tawfik, stay there i will back in a second or two but i will take our viewers around the life pictures, aerial pictures first of all. this helicopter shots, aerial pictures first of all. this helicoptershots, ready aerial pictures first of all. this helicopter shots, ready to chart the movement of donald trump from trump tower to the courthouse. ahead of

that appearance there in court, a legal first with a former us president set to face criminal charges. do you stay with us here on bbc news. nada tawfik on the ground outside of the courthouse and i will talk about the courthouse and i will talk about the timeline in a moment or two, but those are aerial pictures and in the next little while we will see donald trump emerge from trump tower, get into the motorcade and make that, three and a half mile journey to the courthouse will stop we lost you for a moment, nada tawfik but me bring you back in. what is being said about the likely timeline on because we talked about the strategy of delays from the defence team, what are the prosecutor saying in terms of how quickly they think they can actually get this done, this trial.

we just don't know at the moment. trial dates and dates for discovery, the process of exchanging evidence to both sides, that is usually set by the judge. to both sides, that is usually set by thejudge. it to both sides, that is usually set by the judge. it is a case where both sides will argue with the judge about what timelines suits them, what is feasible. for my experience covering court cases, they can drag on for quite some time. we are talking about a trial that perhaps does not happen for another year. even when trial dates are set they are movable if a judge finds there is enough because to do so. as we have been talking about, donald trump in the past has used that strategy of the filing motions, trying to delay, to hold up the case and then we have the issue where he

is a presidential hopeful. so does he appeal to higher federal courts saying, you need to intervene here, i cannot be on trial while i am also campaigning. ithink i cannot be on trial while i am also campaigning. i think that is a key piece that alvin bragg predecessor cyrus vance raised here, whether donald trump's legal team would use that tactic. but donald trump has vowed that no matter what, even convicted, he will still run for the presidency. so i think today we may get a better sense of if the judge will set a trial date. he does not necessarily have to today but i think all that will come in time. stay with us, nada tawfik because we will watch these pictures because we are into the final hour of countdown. it is unclear when donald trump will make that move from trump tower to the courthouse. we have been watching this pictures of large numbers of his supporters there in

the park opposite. for course, it is when he gets to court, when the processing starts. that is when he's actually arrested. is it clear yet, nada tawfik, whether the public will see a mug shot the traditional one we so often see?— see a mug shot the traditional one we so often see? at the moment we believe that — we so often see? at the moment we believe that he _ we so often see? at the moment we believe that he will not _ we so often see? at the moment we believe that he will not actually - we so often see? at the moment we believe that he will not actually be i believe that he will not actually be forced to take a mug shot. there was a lot of back and forth even less than 24 hours before his court appearance, but at the moment that seems unlikely. so too, it looks unlikely that he will be placed in handcuffs the way some of his other aides and employees have like his chief financial officer allen weisselberg who was led away from the court records island in handcuffs. but on some ways he will be treated like any other defendant in terms of being formally booked. in other ways he will be treated, especially here and crushed through the process.

especially here and crushed through the process-— the process. back to the next little while but viewers _ the process. back to the next little while but viewers here _ the process. back to the next little while but viewers here in _ the process. back to the next little while but viewers here in the - the process. back to the next little while but viewers here in the uk i the process. back to the next little i while but viewers here in the uk be- while but viewers here in the uk be— six o'clock news coming up. for viewers around the world, more coming up. which relate to buying the silence of a former porn star. mr trump denies the charges and claims he's the victim of a political prosecution stop the witchhunt. ever divisive, mr trum - stop the witchhunt. ever divisive, mr trump has _ stop the witchhunt. ever divisive, mr trump has both _ stop the witchhunt. ever divisive, mr trump has both supporters . stop the witchhunt. ever divisive, | mr trump has both supporters and opponents camped outside the courthouse, loudly proclaiming their views. this was the scene right now. mr trump is views. this was the scene right now. mrtrump is due views. this was the scene right now. mr trump is due in court injust overan hour. we

mr trump is due in court injust over an hour. we will be looking at exactly what charges donald trump