- Donald Trump had said he expected an indictment this week, but the grand jury responsible for making the decision was not convened on Wednesday.
- It’s unclear whether this is a technical issue or a sign that prosecutors’ arguments aren’t strong.
- Either way, Donald Trump is a candidate surrounded by business, with investigations into classified documents and the 2020 presidential election gaining momentum.
From our correspondent in the United States,
No white smoke from the Manhattan DA’s office. With New York and America hanging over a possible indictment against former President Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels case, the grand jury set to decide possible indictments reportedly did not meet on Wednesday. The timing of an announcement, between Thursday or next week, remains unclear. And it cannot be ruled out that further witnesses will be heard.
To indict Donald Trump, prosecutor Alvin Bragg must convince a panel of 23 citizens by a simple majority that the former US president likely broke the law by paying former porn star Stormy Daniels through his attorney shortly before the 2016 election threatened to publicly reveal he had an affair with Donald Trump ten years ago, when the Republican’s campaign was rocked by Access Hollywood video of him making vulgar remarks about women.
Another witness heard?
This grand jury, which has been investigating for months, can meet three afternoons a week at the request of the public prosecutor’s office: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The insider site mentions a cancellation of Wednesday’s session, noting that the grand jury is unlikely to meet on Thursday, which would delay any decision until next week. According to the New York Times, the jury was able to hear an additional witness before voting.
Trump’s ex-attorney Michael Cohen, who turned his jacket, has been heard by the grand jury about twenty times. Donald Trump refused to come, but a former Cohen legal adviser, Bob Costello, testified Monday to attack the credibility of the former Trump “fixer.”
The former White House renter used what appeared to be backlash to claim there had been “no crime, no affair, nothing at all,” assuring that Costello’s testimony in his favor was “devastating,” prompting the Prosecutors are looking for an additional witness to convince the grand jury. This is pure speculation: technical delays are common and all hearings are sealed before possible indictments.
A complex file
It is currently unknown what charges prosecutor Alvin Bragg is considering. Michael Cohen claims Donald Trump bought Stormy Daniels’ silence, but it’s not banned per se. On the other hand, the reimbursement that Donald Trump presented as simple legal fees in his tax return could be a hoax. Which is a minor offense under the New York Penal Code, punishable by a fine.
The prosecutor could also cite that the then-candidate violated the Election Finance Act, which would be an offense punishable by four years in prison. But convincing a jury during a trial is often complicated because the line between private and public transactions is blurred. In 2012, Democrat John Edwards, who paid a mistress, escaped conviction.
A candidate surrounded by investigations
According to many experts, this case is undoubtedly the least dangerous for Donald Trump, who is threatened from all sides. Investigations into his handling of confidential documents are gathering pace: At the request of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, a judge on Wednesday forced a lawyer for Trump to testify before a grand jury because he believed a crime was likely committed, and a Waiver of confidentiality is justified by a clause that normally protects conversations with a customer.
Jack Smith also examines Donald Trump’s role in the attack on the Capitol and his efforts to influence the verdict of the polls following the 2020 presidential election. He is accused of exercising on local officials. According to CNN, prosecutor Fani Willis is considering possible racketeering and conspiracy charges and may announce her decision on whether to indict Donald Trump sometime this spring.
But even if convicted, Donald Trump could run for president in 2024: only Congress has the power to impose an ineligibility. As attorney Bradley Moss reminded 20 Minutes, “in theory, Donald Trump could be a candidate or be elected even if he were in prison.”