The wait for Trump’s possible arrest continues

Trump had brought this day into play earlier and called for protests. The New York Attorney is investigating the Republican over hush money payments. An indictment in the case seems increasingly likely. According to reports, a competent jury will convene again next Wednesday – a vote on an indictment is then possible.

Trump, meanwhile, continued to rant against the judiciary, protesting against the district attorney in charge Alvin Bragg.

Bragg is investigating the deposed ex-president for hush money payments to actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal. Investigators question whether Trump may have violated campaign finance laws by making the payment.

Hush money isn’t illegal in the US, but the indictment could make the $130,000 donations from Daniels and $150,000 from McDougal illegal in New York State. Trump sees the proceedings as a politically motivated “witch hunt” and had predicted Tuesday as the time of his “arrest”.

It is now completely open when – and also if – there will be an indictment. American media do not rule out that charges can still be filed this week. A so-called grand jury votes on this. In the United States, a jury decides whether to indict a case after the prosecution has presented evidence.

It is composed of citizens randomly selected from electoral registers or other public records. Grand juries are usually involved when it comes to bigger and controversial cases.

However, the grand jury does not appear in public – so it is unclear what goes on behind closed doors. What is certain is that the panel has heard a number of witnesses in the case in recent weeks. All signs point to charges imminent. This Wednesday is now in the Chamber as a new possible date for a vote. It is also possible that the jury will then hear other witnesses. The grand jury usually consists of 23 citizens. A simple majority is enough to vote for impeachment.

The charges would initially be under lock and key – but may also be released. In a next step, the prosecution would inform Trump and his lawyers accordingly about the allegations. Experts assume that the Public Prosecution Service would then make an appointment with Trump so that he could turn himself in voluntarily.

Trump’s environment had previously assured that the ex-president would voluntarily appear in court. This would not require a sensational arrest. Trump would most likely then have to appear in New York – where his fingerprints would be taken and photographs taken. All this would happen behind closed doors. This is usually followed by a reading of the indictment – ​​usually this is public. Trump could then plead “guilty” or “not guilty,” for example. It is considered likely that Trump could go home after such a formal procedure.

The media expects that such an appointment – should there be an indictment – will not come until next week. However, it can be assumed that Trump or the public prosecutor will make the charges public in advance. Trump, who is running again for a Republican presidential nomination, is using the current attention surrounding the case to raise funds.

He also incites his followers against the judiciary. There is no “crime of any kind,” Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social, a network he co-founded. Some Republicans had targeted and sharply attacked the responsible District Attorney Bragg in recent days. Security around the New York court has been tightened.

“I would discourage Americans from participating in protests if the former president is actually impeached,” Trump former Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday. Trump’s fellow party would also have ambitions for the White House. The demonstrations have been quite small in recent days.

Trump’s call to protest, however, brought back memories of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. At that time, he goaded his supporters before they forcefully entered Washington’s Houses of Parliament. (sda/dpa)