The police presence in Miami is increasing as local and federal law enforcement agencies prepare for possible violence in connection with the indictment of former President Donald Trump this week.
Miami-Dade police have said they are ready to help with any security measures that may be necessary, with local media reporting of fences and barricades being erected around the courthouse where Trump is expected to appear.
In a statement released by the City of Miami Police Department, the Department revealed that it is working “cohesively” with “local, state, and federal partners” to assist with “personnel, resources, detours and/or road closures.”
The Department also expressed commitment to
“protecting everyone’s First Amendment right.”
Law enforcement is monitoring plans for protests at the federal courthouse in Miami and at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, where Trump lives.
The situation mirrors Trump’s indictment in New York, where there were several days of protests over his appearance on charges relating to hush money payments made to adult star Stormy Daniels.
The protests remained largely peaceful, although there were some altercations between supporters and critics of the former President.
Trump’s Florida indictment, released Friday (June 9), charges him with 37 counts of several crimes, including 31 counts of intentionally withholding national defense information, three counts of withholding or suppressing documents from a federal investigation, two counts of perjury, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct the administration of justice.
Trump has responded to the indictment by repeating frequent claims that he is the victim of a “political hit job” or a “witch hunt.”
Former Trump allies have noted the seriousness of the allegations, with former Trump attorney Bill Barr saying the indictment is “very, very damning,” comments Barr made on Fox News on Sunday (June 11).
Barr added that Trump would likely be “toast” if even half of the allegations were true.
