A bomb threat in New York delayed a court as a judge was about to start a hearing over a $250 million lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Donald Trump, Bloomberg reports.
State court spokesman Lucian Chalfen said authorities are investigating the 911 call that caused the courthouse at 60 Centre Street to be temporarily closed and searched.
It was an unfounded threat, police said. Regarding whether the bomb threat mentioned Trump, a state courts spokesman told the New York Post: ‘Not that I’m aware of.’
The incident occurred amid heightened security measures around the courthouse area as the US awaits a grand jury’s possible indictment of Trump for criminal charges.
Jurors have heard a stream of evidence from prosecutors with the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office on Trump’s alleged role in a 2016 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
New York authorities have been monitoring online channels with threats of varying levels as Trump supporters gathered in Midtown Manhattan on Monday and Tuesday.
Law enforcement leaders in New York reportedly met on Monday to coordinate and prepare security plans. Metal barricades have been unloaded outside the Manhattan Criminal Court and the district attorney’s offices.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said attempts to intimidate his office won’t be tolerated.
‘We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York,’ Bragg said in an email to staff.
