Donald Trump indicted in adult film actress bribery case
The former president of the United States, Donald Trump, has been charged Friday in the framework of the investigation against him for allegedly paying a bribe to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels.
His former lawyer says no one is above the law
«For the first time in our nation’s history, a president has been impeached. I take solace in validating the adage that no one is above the law, not even a former president. Today’s indictment is not the end of this chapter, but the beginning,» said Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, CNN reports.
130,000 to hide the fact that they allegedly had an affair
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had offered Trump the possibility of testifying in this case of alleged bribery, in which Cohen was an instrumental part by giving Clifford about $130,000 (120,000 euros) to not reveal that he maintained alleged relations with the tycoon almost 20 years ago; a management carried out irregularly by being hidden in the accounts of the Trump Organization, Trump’s company, during the 2016 election campaign.
«Political persecution and electoral interference.»
Donald Trump has responded to his indictment, which he has described as «political persecution and electoral interference», through a statement. «This has never been done before in the history of our nation,» he has reproached. «From the moment I walked down the escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Democrats of the radical left — the enemy of the working men and women of this country — have engaged in a witch hunt to destroy the ‘Make America Great Again’ movement,» Trump has assured. He has assured that he is «a completely innocent person» and that the Democrats are «obsessed with ‘Pillar a Trump'» and have committed an act of «blatant electoral interference», also speculating about the District Attorney in charge of the case: «Alvin Bragg, who has been personally chosen and financed by George Soros, is a disgrace».
Accuses Democrats
«Democrats have cheated countless times over the past decades, including spying on my campaign, but using our judicial system as a weapon to punish a political opponent, who happens to be a president of the United States and the most successful long-shot Republican candidate, has never happened. Never,» he said. In addition to attacking the Democrats, Trump has also had words for the current US president: «I think this witch hunt is going to have a huge impact on Joe Biden. Americans will realize exactly what the radical Democratic left is doing. Everyone can see it. Our movement and our party, united and strong, we will defeat first Alvin Bragg and then Joe Biden, and we will throw all these corrupt Democrats out of government to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!».
Mike Pence criticizes Manhattan jury decision
The former Vice President of the United States Mike Pence has criticized the decision of a Manhattan jury to indict former President Donald Trump, which he called a «scandal» and an «example of political criminalization» in the United States during an interview on CNN. The former right-hand man of Trump, possible future Republican candidate for the presidential elections, keeps some distance from the former president since the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, but has not hesitated to defend his former boss: «This looks like a new example of the kind of two-tier system that Americans are fed up with». «I think the unprecedented indictment of a former president of the United States on a campaign finance issue is a scandal, and for millions of Americans it is nothing more than a political persecution by a lawyer who literally ran for office with a campaign promising to indict the former president,» he said.
Leveraging the Trump brand
One of Trump’s legal team lawyers, Alina Habba, said in a statement that Trump «is a victim of the U.S. system’s corrupt and distorted version of justice and history.» «President Trump has been indicted. He has committed no crime. We will vigorously challenge this impeachment in court,» two more of Trump’s lawyers, Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina, have stated in a statement to NBC. Another of the lawyers, Chris Kise, has criticized the indictment in a statement, «What was once the most respected District Attorney’s office has been completely degenerated by an opportunistic politician seeking, like many others, to cash in on the Trump brand. The complete lack of legal basis, coupled with the politicized nature of the prosecution, should frighten every citizen of this country, regardless of their views of President Trump.»
A sample of the «hard work and diligence of the jury».
For his part, the lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels has stressed that the indictment of Trump «is not cause for joy,» but a sign of the «hard work and diligence of the jury» that must «be respected.» «No one is above the law,» she added.
Trump expected to turn himself in next week
One of the lawyers for Trump’s team, Joe Tacopina, has told NBC that they expect Trump to go to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office early next week, when, according to sources close to the case, the former president is expected to be arraigned. The DA’s office has confirmed that they are in contact with Trump’s legal team to arrange for his voluntary surrender, although they have not confirmed a date, according to a statement from a spokesman for the DA, Andy Bragg.
Formally charged with a crime
This indictment implies that Trump has been formally charged with a crime, with his arrest, voluntary or involuntary, being the next step in the judicial process. U.S. media report that following the arrest, which is being planned with his lawyers to be carried out in the most efficient manner, the former president may be fingerprinted and a mugshot may be taken that could be released to the press.
Preliminary Hearing
This will be followed by a preliminary hearing at which Trump will be able to hear the charges against him and appeal them, and it is possible that during the time of these hearings Trump will be released on remand. After the hearing, it will be decided whether or not the case proceeds to trial.
Ron DeSantis calls the decision «un-American.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to run for the 2024 presidential election in the United States, has branded as «un-American» the decision of the Judiciary to indict former US President Donald Trump for allegedly bribing porn actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, not to reveal that she had an alleged affair with the mogul nearly 20 years ago. Many of his supporters and opponents have reacted to Trump’s indictment, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has claimed that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has «irreparably damaged» the country to «intervene» in the presidential election, and has assured that the «American people» will not tolerate it.
