Donald Trump, former President of the United States
Photo: Portal/Marco Bello
A grand jury in Manhattan, New York on Thursday voted to indict former US President Donald Trump in the bribery case of porn star Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, the New York Times reported, citing official sources.
This is the first time in US history that an incumbent or former president has been prosecuted.
According to the publication, New York authorities have already notified Trump’s lawyer. The decision is to be officially announced by the public prosecutor’s office in the coming days.
The complaint alleges that Trump bribed Daniels with $130,000 in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election to keep the actress silent about an alleged extramarital relationship between the two.
The alleged affair between Trump and Daniels was exposed by the Wall Street Journal, which cited the payment. The money was justified as legal fees for one of the tycoon’s lawyers. The affair between the two would have started shortly after Melania gave birth to the couple’s youngest son, Barron.
For his part, Trump has always denied the relationship, even after his former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts, including paying a bribe to buy Daniel’s silence.
Manhattan authorities are also looking into a $150,000 payment to a former Playboy model who said she was having an affair with the former president. .