Former US President Donald Trump has left his Florida residence for Manhattan court where he is expected to surrender to authorities in connection with a hush money case. The case centers around allegations that Trump paid off women who claimed to have had affairs with him before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump is facing charges of violating campaign finance laws by arranging for payments to be made to two women, porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, in exchange for their silence about their alleged affairs with him. Trump has denied the allegations.

The charges against Trump were brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which has been investigating the payments for more than two years. The investigation was initially launched by federal prosecutors in New York, but it was later handed over to the state authorities after Trump left office.

According to reports, Trump’s lawyers have been in negotiations with prosecutors to try to reach a deal that would avoid Trump being taken into custody. However, it is unclear whether any agreement has been reached.

Trump’s appearance in court is likely to draw significant media attention, with dozens of reporters and camera crews expected to be outside the courthouse.

The hush money case is just one of several legal challenges facing Trump since he left office in January. He is also facing investigations into his business practices and his role in the January 6th Capitol riot.

In a statement released before his court appearance, Trump described the charges against him as “yet another example of the Democrats’ witch hunt against me”. He also accused the District Attorney’s Office of being politically motivated and said that the case was “just another attempt to smear my name and damage my reputation”.

The case is expected to be closely watched by legal experts and political analysts, with many speculating that it could have significant implications for Trump’s political future. Some have suggested that a conviction in the case could make it more difficult for Trump to mount a comeback bid for the presidency in 2024.

However, others have pointed out that Trump has proven to be a resilient political figure, and that he has weathered numerous scandals and controversies in the past. They argue that the hush money case is unlikely to have a major impact on his political fortunes.

As of now, it is unclear what the outcome of the case will be, or what the consequences will be for Trump. However, one thing is certain: the eyes of the world will be on Manhattan court as the former US President faces his day in court.