The exact charges are still unknown, according to the New York Times. But the Manhattan grand jury ruled in favor of the prosecution, the newspaper reported, citing insider information. The deliberations of the commission composed of 23 citizens are secret. The decision was originally expected by the end of April.
The indictment, which was kept confidential by the public prosecutor in charge, will likely be published in the next few days, the newspaper said. The indictment is “a historic development that will rock the 2024 presidential race” as Trump is the first former US president to be prosecuted.
not illegal payment
The investigation is into a clandestine payment of $ 130,000 (about 120,000 euros) to porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The porn star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claimed that she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which he denies.
A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump for his role in paying a porn star to silence, according to people with knowledge of the matter, forever marking him as the first former US president to face criminal charges. Follow live updates. https://t.co/g3GKWT18se
—The New York Times (@nytimes) March 30, 2023
Trump’s attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, who has since resigned from his former client, claims to have paid them money on Trump’s behalf during the election campaign to avoid political harm shortly before the election. Trump’s company later reimbursed him for the expenses in several installments. In December 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison.
The payment itself is not illegal, but charges could include forgery of business documents or illegal campaign finance. Finally, prosecutors could argue that the bribe directly benefited the candidacy. Trump and his lawyers also granted the payment. However, the Republican denies having any relationship with the porn actress and insists that the payment had nothing to do with campaign money.
Trump himself took over the prison
Recently, the signs of a possible indictment have condensed. Trump himself said on March 18 that he should be arrested soon. He called on his supporters to protest. Authorities in New York feared that there might be riots.
Trump’s environment recently ensured that the former president would follow the usual procedure should there be an indictment – and would also voluntarily appear in court to find out details of possible charges. So there would be no reason for a sensational arrest. It is considered likely that Trump could return home after the usual formal impeachment proceedings.
“Insane” and “Scum”
Trump himself called the allegations “political harassment and election interference” in a statement released on Thursday, saying he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “left-wing Democrats”. “Impeachment of a perfectly innocent person is an act of flagrant election interference,” Trump said.
At a recent event, Trump berated officials that the New York District Attorney had “investigated something against me under the auspices of the ‘Department of Justice’ in Washington that is not a felony, is not a misdemeanor, is not a case.” , said Trump. Behind him were “radical left-wing lunatics”. Trump called the plaintiffs “human scum.”
Trump wants to run for the White House again in 2024. A trial and possible conviction that could land the Republican several years in prison could politically damage his plans to run for president again, in terms of support from his party and the Republican base. In purely legal terms, on the other hand, Trump could theoretically also be considered a convicted felon in the 2024 presidential election, experts believe.