What’s new?
A so-called grand jury in New York has voted to indict former US President Donald Trump in connection with paying hush money to a porn actress. Prosecutor Alvin Bragg confirmed that on Thursday.
His office contacted Trump’s attorney to coordinate his transfer to New York for charges, Bragg’s office said Thursday night (local time). The charges in the case are still under lock and key. Further information will follow once a date for Trump’s appearance has been set. Never before in US history has a former president been charged with a crime.
What is the background to the charges?
The case concerns hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels says he had sex with Trump in 2006. His attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, who has since distanced himself from his former client, said he paid her hush money on behalf of Trump during the 2016 election campaign to stave off political damage from him shortly before the election. Trump’s company later reimbursed him for the costs in several installments.
The case relates to a possible campaign finance crime prior to the 2016 U.S. election. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges in court in 2018, including violating campaign finance laws for paying hush money to Daniels and another woman. In December 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison.
In Trump’s case, the question now is whether the Republican wanted to hide multiple repayments to Cohen. While hush money payments are not illegal in the United States, prosecutors could present Daniels with $130,000 as a campaign donation illegal in New York State. Finally, prosecutors could argue that the hush money directly benefited his candidacy.
Trump and his lawyers have awarded a payment. However, the Republican denies having anything to do with the porn actress and insists that the payment had nothing to do with campaign funds. The ex-president described the New York investigations as a “witch hunt”. Recently, the 76-year-old claimed in a social media post that his arrest was imminent. At the same time, he called on his followers to resist: “Protest, take back our nation!”. New York then prepared for possible protests and heightened security around the courthouse in midtown Manhattan.
What does Trump say about this?
Trump calls the charges against him an “attack on our country”. It is also an attack on the “once” free elections, the United States is now a “Third World country” and a nation in decline, the Republican wrote Thursday on the network and Twitter replacement Truth Social, which he co-founded. His post capitalized a number of words, the word “charged” was misspelled. Trump has several legal construction sites – he repeatedly dismisses all allegations as political persecution.
After the charges against him, former US President Donald Trump will have to appear in court in New York next week, according to the media. The American media report this, citing Trump’s lawyers. Initially there was no confirmation of this. Trump’s lawyers had previously made it clear that Trump would likely turn himself in if indicted. Trump’s lawyers are expected to make an appointment with the New York Attorney’s Office.
What role does Michael Cohen play?
In a court case, Cohen would likely be the key witness to Trump’s impeachment. He worked for him for more than a decade and was a central figure in several cases involving the Republican. Cohen was often described as Trump’s “cleaner” until the two parted ways. In court and in the U.S. Congress, Cohen has leveled serious accusations against Trump, which also faces a number of other investigations — including the attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.
Before Congress in 2019, Cohen substantiated his claims that he paid hush money to Daniels and the other woman on Trump’s behalf. Cohen says Trump personally ordered hush money to be paid back to him when he was already president. So he accused Trump of criminal conduct in office. Cohen said Trump has a habit of not saying certain instructions directly, but expressing them in a kind of “code” that he followed.
What does Daniels say?
After the indictment of former US President Donald Trump, porn actress Stormy Daniels thanked her followers for their support.
“I’ve been getting so many messages I can’t even reply…I don’t want to spill my champagne either,” she wrote on Twitter on Thursday night (local time). She also receives requests for promotional items and autographs. There are now a few more days to be scheduled for shipping.
Daniels’ attorney Clark Brewster told CNN she was not surprised by the allegations, but rather relieved. “It’s really a fight against his (Trump’s) denial of the truth and his fabricated stories,” he added.
What are the consequences of the charge?
A trial and potential conviction that could see the Republican receive several years in prison could politically jeopardize his plans to run for president again, in terms of support from his party and the Republican base. From a purely legal point of view, on the other hand, Trump could theoretically also run as a convicted criminal in the 2024 presidential election, lawyers emphasize.
Trump’s circle had assured in advance that the ex-president would follow the usual procedure if an indictment were brought – 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 will be able to return home after the usual formal impeachment procedures. It was initially unclear whether images of Trump in handcuffs or police photos of him would be published.
(dab/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
