Top US official warns Donald Trump’s threats will not be tolerated after his call for protest

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has instructed his staff to not tolerate threats after former US President Donald Trump called for protests if he is arrested.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sent an email to his staff on Saturday, local time, saying he would not “tolerate attempts to intimidate our office” after Donald Trump put out a rallying cry to his supporters ahead of his possible arrest.

According to the New York Post, the top official’s memo comes hours after former US President Donald Trump blasted Bragg’s office as “CORRUPT AND POLITICAL” and urged his followers to protest his arrest, which Trump predicted would be on Tuesday.

Donald Trump greets fans as he arrives before the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma. Picture: Reuters

“Our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated and that the proper safeguards are in place so all 1,600 of us have a secure work environment,” Mr Bragg told his office, according to a leaked email.

“In the meantime, as with all of our investigations, we will continue to apply the law evenly and fairly and speak openly only when appropriate,” Mr Bragg wrote. “We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York.”

Mr Bragg has signalled he is preparing to seek felony charges against Trump, accusing him of attempting to hide a $130,000 (A$194,000) hush money payment that Trump’s lawyer and fixer at the time, Michael D. Cohen, paid to Ms. Daniels on the eve of the 2016 US presidential election.

On Saturday morning, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce that he will be arrested on Tuesday.

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels says she was paid hush money by former US president Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

“THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” he wrote in all caps.

“THEY’RE KILLING OUR NATION AS WE SIT BACK & WATCH. WE MUST SAVE AMERICA! PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!.” he wrote in a follow-up message.

Daniels claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which Trump has repeatedly denied.

If he is indicted, Trump would become the first president in US history to ever face criminal charges after leaving office.

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other Democrat politicians denounced Trump’s calls to protest his arrest as “reckless.”

“The former president’s announcement this morning is reckless: doing so to keep himself in the news & to foment unrest among his supporters,” Pelosi tweeted. “He cannot hide from his violations of the law, disrespect for our elections and incitements to violence.”

Former Trump lttorney Michael Cohen (L) looks on as his lawyer speaks to members of the media outside the district attorney's office in New York City. Picture: AFP

‘EERILY SIMILAR’ TO JANUARY 6 RIOT

Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who served three years in prison after pleading guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in connection to the Daniels payments in 2018, told The Post on Saturday that Trump’s social media post is “eerily similar” to his battle cry prior to the January 6th insurrection, including calling for protest.

“By doing so, Donald is hoping to rile his base, witness another violent clash on his behalf and profit from it by soliciting contributions.”

Many Republicans have jumped to Trump’s defence, including Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy who called for an “immediate” congressional investigation into a “politically motivated prosecution.”

“Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump,” McCarthy posted.

But Elon Musk predicted that Trump will ultimately end up back in the White House if he is indicted by Manhattan prosecutors.

“If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory,” Musk said in a tweet.

Donald Trump greets Elon Musk before a policy and strategy forum with executives in 2017 in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

The comment from the Twitter boss and world’s richest man came in response to a Fox News segment detailing how Trump could potentially be “cuffed” and “fingerprinted and processed” and “escorted into the courtroom.”

Law enforcement and the Secret Service were discussing “logistics” and “security preparation” for how an arrest might unfold.

Since taking over Twitter Elon Musk has restored hundreds of previously banned accounts, including Donald Trump’s.

The former US president was also recently allowed back on YouTube after a two year suspension.

Originally published as Top US official warns Donald Trump’s threats will not be tolerated after his call for protest