Former President Trump Indicted Over Stormy Daniels Hush Money
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted for allegedly paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels hush money.
This historic event makes Trump the first former U.S. president. president facing criminal charges in history.
After announcing his surrender, Trump, 76, is likely to appear before Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday.
He could face up to 30 business fraud-related charges.
After turning himself in, Trump will be photographed and have his fingerprints taken.
He will be protected at all times by armed Secret Service agents, according to The New York Times.
The former commander-in-chief has vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the probe.
On his Truth Social platform, he wrote: “This is the highest level of Political Persecution and Election Interference in history.
He asserted that Democrats have “cheated countless times over the years” and called the Manhattan district attorney a “disgrace.”
Trump said: “I believe this Witch Hunt against Joe Biden will severely backfire.
Everyone can see what the radical left Democrats are doing here; the American people are fully aware.
Trump’s defense attorneys Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina also stated that their client “did not commit a crime.”
They stated, “We will fight this political prosecution vigorously in court.”
Chris Kise, Trump’s attorney, stated that the indictment marked a turning point “the lowest point in our criminal justice system’s history.”
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The former president was in discussions with his attorneys and has stated his intention to fight the charges.
Trump was later photographed with his wife Melania at their luxurious Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago.
According to Politico, the Manhattan DA requested that Trump surrender on Friday, but the ex-attorney president stated that the Secret Service required additional time.
In the meantime, NYPD officers have been observed erecting barricades in anticipation of potential protests in the city.
According to CBS News, more than 30,000 officers have been ordered to wear full uniforms on Friday and are ready for mobilization.
Ex-NYPD lieutenant Darrin Porcher told the outlet: “You will see many pedestrian pens. You will implement numerous street closures.”
Trump supporters armed with 2024 flags demonstrated in the vicinity of Mar-a-Lago.
According to reports, Trump’s former attorney Michael D. Cohen made the payments to Daniels, who was born Stephanie Clifford and claimed to have had an affair with the former president in 2006.
Before the 2016 presidential election, Cohen allegedly paid her $130,000 to remain silent about an alleged affair with Trump.
In subsequent years, Cohen admitted to making the payment to Daniels.
The adult star claimed Cohen used “threats of intimidation and coercion” to get her to sign the denial of her affair with Trump.
Cohen eventually pled guilty to campaign finance charges related to the payments.
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He told a Manhattan federal court that Trump instructed him to make the payments.
Cohen was eventually given a three-year prison sentence.
Long ago, the former president denied having an affair with the adult film star and referred to the investigation as a “witch hunt.”
Trump’s indictment comes as he seeks the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
DeSantis, who has not yet declared his candidacy for president but is considered Trump’s greatest rival for the Republican nomination, criticized Bragg.
After the verdict was announced, he asserted the legal system had been “weaponized.”
He fumed: “The use of the legal system as a weapon to advance a political agenda inverts the rule of law. It is unpatriotic.
“Consistently, the Soros-backed Manhattan district attorney has manipulated the law to downgrade felonies and excuse criminal behavior.
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He is now stretching the law to target a political opponent.
DeSantis pledged that Florida would not cooperate with any extradition request.
And former vice president Mike Pence, who may run for president himself this spring, described Trump’s indictment as unprecedented.
Thursday, Pence told CNN that the charges were “outrageous.”
He stated, “I believe the American public will view this as yet another instance of the criminalization of American politics.”
Eric Trump, Trump’s son, told DailyMail.com: “This is the strategic targeting of a political opponent during an election year.
“They are viciously attacking my father because he dared to challenge the political elite. This is proof positive of the decline of American law.”
Countless Republicans in Congress have also condemned the indictment.
However, Republican strategist Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project think tank, told The U.S. Sun that Trump’s indictment improves his chances of winning the Republican nomination.
He stated, “Trump’s base will become more supportive of Donald Trump. They will support him with greater fervor.
His supporters will view the indictment as illegitimate and blame the deep state for it.
The indictment does not prevent Trump from seeking the Republican nomination.
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