Justice Department officials are said to be upset by the Manhattan District Attorney’s decision to indict Trump, believing it is a weak case that could undermine more serious legal investigations into Trump.
Alvin Bragg’s intention to prosecute the former president for his hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels was revealed Thursday – sparking dismay and anger in Mar-a-Lago and Washington DC, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper reported that “senior officials” at the Justice Department had concerns about the strength of Bragg’s case.
The case has not yet been made public, but is believed to contain at least 30 charges related to the payment to Daniels just before the 2016 election.
Justice Department officials reportedly think Bragg’s case is weak. They are currently investigating allegations that Trump attempted to overturn Biden’s 2020 Georgia election victory and that he instigated the Jan. 6, 2021 riots.
Federal prosecutors are said to believe both cases are stronger than the hush money allegations and fear that Bragg’s decision to proceed could undermine future prosecutions if the New York case against Trump does collapse or end in an acquittal.
Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg leaves his office Thursday night. A spokesman said the office has contacted Trump’s attorneys to begin the process of bringing him to Manhattan
Trump is also under investigation for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, including his crowd flogging on January 6, 2021 (pictured).
Poll workers are pictured on January 5, 2021 in Fulton County, Georgia. Trump pressured Georgia officials to “find” votes for him.
The payments to Daniels could be considered campaign finance violations because they supported Trump’s campaign — covering up his alleged affair — but were not reported as campaign contributions.
Additionally, Justice Department officials are concerned that Trump’s indictment by New York prosecutors could complicate the work of Special Counsel Jack Smith – who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate both documents classified as Mar-a-Lago and Trump’s actions to investigate efforts to overturn the election.
Smith is investigating the Jan. 6 riots and trying to pressure officials to change the vote counts.
Before Christmas, Smith put Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger before a grand jury.
Trump suggested in a recorded phone call to Raffensperger that he “find” the votes needed to win in Georgia.
“I just want to find 11,780 votes, that’s one more than we have,” Trump said.
The Justice Department did not comment on the charges against Trump.
The White House also declined to comment.
Trump has blasted the charges and said Democrats would regret prosecuting an innocent man when his supporters fired them from office.
Meanwhile, Manhattan prosecutors said they are in contact with Trump’s attorneys to arrange his surrender in New York.
A source told that the head of Trump’s security detail recently traveled to Manhattan to review the arrangements and that the former president is likely to be formally arrested next week.
That could be as early as Tuesday, Susan Necheles, one of his attorneys, told the New York Times.
Though the indictment is sealed for now, CNN reported that it contained more than 30 criminal charges.
A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict former President Donald Trump for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels
Trump played nine holes of golf Thursday at his West Palm Beach club. He’s pictured here a day earlier with Natalie Harp, who helps run his social media account, Truth
“The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession to ‘get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable — they’ve charged a completely innocent person with apparent election interference,” Trump said in an emailed statement.
“Never before in our nation’s history has this been done.”
The indictment marks the end of a five-year investigation into cash payments to the adult film star in 2016, allegedly to buy her to remain silent about their affair.
And it is leading the country into uncharted political and legal territory.
Although a felony charge would not disqualify him from running for office, it means a leading candidate faces the humiliation of arrest in 2024.
A Bragg spokesman said talks had begun to bring Trump to New York.
“Tonight we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his transfer to the Manhattan Attorney’s Office for indictment on a Supreme Court indictment that remains classified,” they said.
Trump had previously played nine holes of golf at his club in Florida as usual on Thursday morning. But the 76-year-old didn’t stay for lunch, although his regular table was reserved.
A grand jury has heard evidence supporting claims that Donald Trump paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to buy her to remain silent about their affair
Trump railed against the charges in an email statement. He said this “witch hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden” and predicted the Democrats would be voted out
A source close to his home in Mar-a-Lago said the Trump team is ready with statements and messages on social media once the charges are dropped.
“We had a plan and the plan was executed,” the source said.
“Putting out surrogates, putting out content.”
Within minutes, his sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were broadcasting or tweeting; Calls for donations followed; and shortly thereafter, an email statement from Trump himself hit inboxes.
“I think this witch hunt is going to backfire massively on Joe Biden,” Trump said before criticizing Bragg.
“The American people recognize exactly what the radical left Democrats are doing here.
“Everyone can see it.
‘So our movement and our party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we will oust every single one of these crooked Democrats so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’