“Tremendous Amount of Danger”: Secret Service Recommends Virtual Arraignment of Trump

White House Secret Service reportedly recommended that New York state authorities pursue a virtual arrest of President Donald Trump in a pending case by the Manhattan district attorney, citing a “tremendous amount of danger” by attempting a physical arrest at his residence in Florida.

Sources speaking with Fox News said the meeting, held at NYPD headquarters on Monday, encompassed an all-hands-on-deck effort required to execute the first criminal arrest of a president in the nation’s history. Should a physical arrest be needed, the Secret Service would take the lead.

By leaking news of an impending indictment, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has brought a host of logistical nightmares on officers involved in the case.

“That created a lot of security issues. The chance of anyone getting hurt has dramatically increased,” the source said.

Over the weekend, President Trump took to Truth Social and called for supporters to “protest, protest, protest” any attempt to arrest him. The remark echoed Mr. Trump’s messages before the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 which many in Washington used to portray the president as inciting chaos leading to the death of five individuals.

Reporters gathered outside Manhattan’s criminal court Monday where NYPD officers were seen setting up barricades around the perimeter.

Happening NOW—NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest. pic.twitter.com/Lbk7yVmM89

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 20, 2023

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan DA, is seeking to charge President Trump with concealing a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels through falsified business records during his 2016 presidential campaign. The DA’s legal approach is not without risks. Court watchers say any judge will carefully consider the prosecution’s novel argument, which oscillates between business and campaign finance wrongdoings.

Washington Republicans have largely stood by President Trump as anticipation of an arrest builds. On Monday House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) sent a letter to Bragg demanding he sit and testify about “what plainly appears to be a politically motivated prosecutorial decision.”