Trump arrives in Florida ahead of court appearance

Donald Trump has arrived in Miami, Florida, where he will appear in court on Tuesday charged with mishandling national security files.

The former US president flew from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Monday morning.

Mr Trump is facing dozens of charges of illegally retaining classified information, including some about nuclear secrets.

It is the second time this year he has been charged with a crime.

Mr Trump, who is campaigning to make a return to the White House in 2024, denies wrongdoing.

This is the first ever federal criminal prosecution against a former US president.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told reporters the city was preparing for Mr Trump’s court appearance.

Police will be deployed in anticipation of crowds up to 50,000 people, he said, though other sources told US media the expected number was in the low thousands.

“We encourage people to be peaceful,” Mr Suarez said.

On Saturday, in his first public appearances since the charges were filed, Mr Trump said the case amounted to “election interference” by the “corrupt” FBI and justice department.

The former president will appear in court alongside a close aide, Walt Nauta, who was charged by the same grand jury in Florida.

Mr Nauta faces six criminal counts related to alleged handling of national security documents. Both men are scheduled to make their initial appearances at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST).

After Tuesday’s hearing, Mr Trump is expected to return to Bedminster to make remarks to the media.

Last week’s 37-count indictment comes after more than 100 documents with classified markings were found at Mr Trump’s private Florida resort Mar-a-Lago in August.

Federal prosecutors accuse the Republican of illegally retaining documents, storing some in a ballroom and a shower at Mar-a-Lago and engaging in a conspiracy with an aide to obstruct the government’s attempts to retrieve them.

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

Mr Trump, the indictment claims, tried to obstruct the FBI inquiry into the missing files by suggesting his lawyer “hide or destroy” them, or tell investigators he did not have them.

Legal experts say the criminal charges could lead to substantial prison time if he is convicted. Mr Trump has vowed to continue his campaign for president whatever the verdict.

Upon his arrival in Florida, Mr Trump is expected to meet with potential legal counsel after two of his attorneys resigned on the day of his indictment.

In court, the Republican will have his charges read to him and is expected to enter a not-guilty plea before he is released. It is unlikely that a trial date will be decided.

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