Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by Manhattan prosecutors and urged his supporters to protest, according to a report on the Truth Social website on Saturday.

Donald TrumpPhoto: Charlie Neibergall/AP/Profimedia

A representative of the district attorney’s office declined to comment.

Trump said, without providing evidence, that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney’s office indicated he would be arrested. He did not specify what charges would be filed.

“Illicit leaks from the corrupt and highly politicized Manhattan District Attorney’s office…indicate that without any evidence of a crime…the leading Republican candidate and former President of the United States of America will be arrested next Tuesday. “, Trump wrote.

“Protest, take back our nation!” Trump said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office earlier this year began presenting evidence to a grand jury investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and middleman, to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, says she had an affair with Trump a decade ago. Trump has denied that the affair took place.

Trump was the Republican president from 2017 to 2021 and has said he will try to return to the White House by running for the US presidency in 2024.

Trump’s former lawyer testified

Earlier this month, Bragg’s office subpoenaed Trump to testify before a grand jury investigating the hidden payments, according to Trump attorney Susan Nekeles. Legal experts said that was a sign that an indictment was imminent.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance violations related to arranging payments to Daniels and another woman, among other crimes.

He said Trump instructed him to make the payments. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan has not filed any criminal charges against Trump.

Cohen testified before a grand jury on Monday and again on Wednesday, according to his attorney, Lenny Davis. Grand jury proceedings are not public.

Daniels’ attorney said he spoke with prosecutors last week.