45th President Donald Trump has officially been indicted by the grand jury summoned by the Manhattan District Attorney to examine claims the former president improperly handled money used to pay an adult film actress who he claims extorted him during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Today the New York Times reported that the Manhattan grand jury “voted to indict” Trump in a move the outlet notes “will shake up the 2024 presidential race and forever mark him as the first former president to face criminal charges.”
The liberal New York newspaper wrote:
The felony indictment, filed under seal by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, will likely be announced in the coming days. By then, prosecutors working for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, will have asked Mr. Trump to surrender and to face arraignment on charges that remain unknown for now.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump hinges on a campaign finance law that would prohibit the candidate from paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels using campaign funds. Trump and his team, meanwhile, say the candidate was victim to an extortion plot and that disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen paid the bill.
JUST IN (#TrumpIndictment) via @nytimes's Ben Protess, @Jonesieman, @WRashbaum:
"A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald J. #Trump on Thursday for his role in paying hush money to a porn star,"https://t.co/IRNUIUE2S3
— Devon Heinen (@DevonHeinen) March 30, 2023
Trump issued a statement after the news broke, calling the indictment “Political Persecution and Election INterference at the highest level in history.”
Bragg, Trump wrote, “who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace. Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work.”
“I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” added Trump.
JUST IN – Trump statement: "This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history." pic.twitter.com/LQo2yYiemA
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 30, 2023
The grand jury was reportedly rocked earlier this month after learning it only received a small subsection of documents, despite Bragg being given more than 300 by a witness who suggested the prosecutor is attempting to offer a one-sided narrative to the jurors.
Reports from earlier today suggested the grand jury would be taking a month long break beginning today, suggesting that any action against Trump would be delayed until April.
Legal scholars have raised questions about the viability of the case, noting that the legal gymnastics required to extend the alleged crime’s statute of limitations, and raising the charge from misdemeanor to a felony despite doing the opposite for most crimes, make Bragg especially vulnerable.
House Republicans, meanwhile, have already begun the fight to expose what they claim is a partisan witch hunt against the former president.
Despite Bragg ignoring their demands in two letter, high ranking House Republicans gave Bragg until this Friday to provide critical details about his case against Trump.
This is a breaking story and may be updated with additional information as it becomes available.
Nicholas
March 30, 2023 at 5:32 pm
Based on this DA’s history Pres. Trump will be in and out of the Police Station in less than 10 mins.
Trump is the first President this nonsense has ever happened to but rest assured he will now not be the last.
Dem elites think it is up to them, not us mere voters, to decide who the GOP candidate is.
Had enough of Democrats YET?
Lawrence
March 31, 2023 at 8:41 am
You are correct Nickolas! This “Completely Fraudulent Unprecedented Action” must turn upon these Despot “Dem/Rino Traitors” and devour them; or my comment which follows will become a Global Reality! Satan’s Cohorts must be crushed and by God they will!
“A New World Order of Total Insanity”
“We now have moved into a world where mass deception and mass murder are commonplace and acceptable”
Sasha
March 30, 2023 at 5:34 pm
FEC found that Michael Cohen paid Stephanie Clifford with his personal funds, and that neither Donald Trump, nor any member of the Trump Campaign, was party to the transaction. It’s called “exculpatory” evidence. They will look foolish, and Trump will be merciless. Maybe one million MAGA’s will donate one billion dollars.
George McClellan
March 30, 2023 at 5:36 pm
So, the game is on. I suspect that Joe Biden and his family think about lawyering up as well because Biden’s Chinese and Ukraine unregistered connections as an agent of foreign governments, will haunt them to their end. I suspect Pelosi is already wondering how much and what Trump has on her as well. There will be a blood letting because Trump will be the next President.
Carol
March 30, 2023 at 6:02 pm
I am so sick of this BS! They did this probably because Jacob Chansley was released today and they are furious as it goes against their narrative. I pray that this blows up in all their faces!
Ell Jay
March 30, 2023 at 6:01 pm
This fool, Bragg, is forced to do this by his controllers. He has no case. How damned stupid is this fat guy? And , how many well known attorneys have said it’s nit illegal to pay someone off.
Go after the real culprits: the Biden crime family and Obama.
Evangeline
March 30, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Time to snuff out all communist democrats that breathe!!
CPO Bill
March 30, 2023 at 7:10 pm
They don’t have a case! A ham sandwich can be indicted!
M
March 30, 2023 at 7:24 pm
This is outrageous! All the problems this country has due to Biden’s total lack of leadership & the demos have caused & then this!!
THe demos are beyond stupid, they do not care for this country. They would do all the americans who truly care about this country to move to a 3rd world county & take Biden with them.
Bo long
March 30, 2023 at 8:01 pm
only I can say fk them all.
Procompmt
March 30, 2023 at 9:41 pm
Seems they’re setting a precedence; I assume going forward that there will be a significant number of government employees heading to prison. This should be an interesting near future. You might want to pack a bag or two Joe. And don’t forget your ice cream.
Richard Alan Lockwood
March 31, 2023 at 8:39 am
I hope that piece of shit DA Alvin Bragg gets run over by a truck or drinks a cup of coffee and dies, this is all to try and keep Trump from winning in 2024.
El-Tejas
March 31, 2023 at 11:37 am
This whole things smells! Is it possible that DA Bragg is attempting to rig the process? Has he withheld pertinent documents? Are his witnesses credible? What specific crime is Bragg charging? Was the Grand Jury biased? How will Trump’s security team handle this? What is the democrat party afraid of?