Security Tightened As Donald Trump Expected In Miami Court To Face Charges Over Classified Documents

The former president will enter a courthouse in Miami for an initial hearing on Tuesday, the second time he has appeared in court this year.

Miami’s police chief said the force was ready for crowds of between 5,000 and 50,000 people to gather.

Mr Trump spent the night at his hotel resort in the city.

The 76-year-old is expected to travel by motorcade from the Trump National Doral resort to the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr courthouse where his arraignment is scheduled for around 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Following the 25-minute journey, Mr Trump will appear in front of a judge and is expected to deny 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to get them back.

The hearing will last for about an hour and will address various procedural issues, although it is unlikely a trial date will be set. A judge earlier rejected a request by news organisations to allow photo and video access inside.

Mr Trump, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, is then expected to return to his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will make remarks to the media.

The charges, which were made public on Friday, came after FBI agents found more than 100 documents with classified markings at Mr Trump’s private Florida estate Mar-a-Lago in August.

They allegedly contained information about the defence and weapons capabilities of both the US and foreign countries, as well as plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

Prosecutors accuse him of hoarding the secret files, storing some in a ballroom and a bathroom, and of engaging in a conspiracy with an aide to obstruct the FBI’s inquiry.