Trump
The Teflon Don is about to face his greatest test.
After years of investigations into Donald Trump and probes into a variety of alleged crimes over the years, a Manhattan grand juror voted Thursday to indict him. This marks the first time in American history that a former president will face criminal prosecution.
The details of the indictment have not been released so they aren’t immediately clear. However, the Manhattan district attorney has claimed that Trump violated the law for his role as a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. This was to silence her story about their affair. Despite many years of investigations, Trump has so far avoided being prosecuted.
The New York Times reported the indictment first. It was confirmed late Thursday by Trump’s lawyers Joe Tacopina, and Susan Necheles. They released a statement saying that President Trump had been indicted. “He didn’t commit any crime. We will vigorously resist this political prosecution in court.”
Trump’s own statement called the indictment “political persecution” and “election interference at the highest levels.” He also accused Democrats of “cheating” the justice system.
A spokesperson for Alvin Braggs, Manhattan District Attorney, stated that arrangements are being made to allow Trump to surrender. “This evening, we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender at the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for arraignment under a Supreme Court Indictment. When the arraignment date has been set, guidance will be provided.
According to reports, Trump would surrender next week. MarketWatch received an email from Necheles confirming that Trump’s arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday.
Also, see: Donald Trump has been indicted. Could he still run to be president?
Trump’s hush-money accusations mark an extraordinary turn in events. He has been under investigation for election interference and the storage of classified information at his Florida home. Trump is attempting to make a political comeback by running for the White House in 2024.
After she approached the National Enquirer to sell her story about having sex in a kiss-and-tell with Trump at a celebrity tournament in 2006, Daniels, who is actually Stephanie Clifford was paid $130,000.
Clifford signed a nondisclosure agreement, and the National Enquirer never published Clifford’s story — a tabloid journalism practice known for “catch and kill.”
Cohen made the initial payment using money he borrowed from his home equity loan. He then funneled it through a Delaware shell company he had created to Clifford. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in federal court in 2018. He said that Trump directed him to make the payment, and he later reimbursed him.
Trump’s company recorded the payment as being for legal services. Federal prosecutors had claimed that the payments were illegal, unreported aid to Trump’s campaign.
Trump was not charged in the federal probe, but was listed as “co-conspirator number 1” in court documents.
Clifford denied that she was having an affair with the former president and described her selling the story to Clifford as extortion.
Cohen was also involved in arranging an earlier “catch and kill” payment in 2016 for former Playboy bunny Karen McDougal. She was given $150,000 by the National Enquirer for her story about having an affair with Trump.
In exchange for their cooperation in the federal investigation, the editors and publishers of the National Enquirer were granted non-prosecution agreements.
An FBI investigation has been launched against Trump over his alleged storage of highly classified documents in boxes he kept after he was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020. A grand jury investigation was also conducted into Trump’s alleged involvement in the Georgia election process.
The New York Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Trump Organization, his real estate company, for allegedly falsifying tax records and business records. The Manhattan district attorney also looked into Trump’s business practices, but has so far declined press charges.
