Trump said he expected to be arrested on Tuesday, prompting protests from supporters

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Issued on: 18/03/2023 – 14:56

Former US President Donald Trump said he expected to be “arrested” on Tuesday over hush money allegedly paid to a porn star before the 2016 election, calling on his supporters to protest.

“The leading Republican candidate and former President of the United States of America will be arrested on Tuesday next week,” the 76-year-old billionaire said Saturday on his Truth Social platform, adding: “Protest, take back our country!”

An indictment would make Trump the first former US president to be charged with a crime, marking an explosive and unexpected development in the 2024 White House race — as Trump again seeks to clinch the Republican nomination.

Even a conviction in the hush money case won’t stop Trump from running, but an indictment could have far-reaching consequences, energizing his critics but also electrifying his supporters.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reacted angrily, accusing New York prosecutors of seeking “political vengeance” against Trump. McCarthy promised on Twitter to launch a congressional investigation into the matter.

But his Democratic predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, denounced Trump’s announcement as “reckless,” saying it would “spark chaos among his supporters.”

“He cannot hide from his violations of the law, his disrespect for our elections and his incitements to violence,” added Pelosi, who was still speaking when Trump was impeached for inciting the riots in January. 6, 2021 at the US Capitol.

The current investigation, led by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, centers on a $130,000 payment weeks before the 2016 election to prevent porn star Stormy Daniels from going public about a relationship she says she had with Trump years ago.

Trump’s lawyer told CNBC on Friday that his client, if indicted, would surrender to face criminal charges.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and has dismissed the investigation as politically motivated.

‘Illegal leak’

In his Truth Social post, written in all caps, Trump referred to “illegal leaks from a corrupt and highly politicized Manhattan district attorney’s office” and said the investigation was “based on an old and completely debunked (by many other prosecutors!) fairytale.”

He doubled down in another post, blasting his successor, President Joe Biden, as “crooked” and urging his followers to “Protest, Protest, Protest!!!”

Reports say authorities plan to increase security around the Manhattan courthouse in the coming days.

Trump’s lawyer, Susan Necheles, indicated that her posts on Saturday were based on media reports and not on any new action taken by prosecutors.

“Because this is a political prosecution, the District Attorney’s office is engaging in a practice of leaking everything to the press, rather than talking to President Trump’s lawyers,” Necheles said in a statement to AFP.

A grand jury is a citizen panel that reviews evidence presented by prosecutors to decide whether a charge is warranted.

A New York jury heard Monday from Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 on related federal charges. He pleaded guilty but said he was carrying out Trump’s orders.

Daniels himself met with prosecutors on Wednesday and “agreed to make himself available as a witness, or for further questioning if necessary,” according to his attorney, Charles Brewster.

Trump has been invited to testify, which legal experts say suggests an indictment is imminent.

The payment to Daniels, if not properly recorded, could result in a misdemeanor charge for falsifying business records. That can be elevated to a felony if the false accounting is intended to cover up a second crime, such as a campaign finance violation, The New York Times reported.

2024 prospects

Trump is facing several criminal investigations at the state and federal level for possible wrongdoing that threatens his new run at the White House.

In Georgia, a prosecutor is investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state. The grand jury in that case recommended multiple indictments, the forewoman announced last month.

The former president is also the subject of a federal investigation into his handling of classified documents as well as his possible involvement in the January 6 rioting.

Some observers believe an indictment bodes ill for Trump’s chances in 2024, while others say it could provide a big boost.

Just to calibrate expectations:

1. The arrest secures the nomination for Donald Trump.

2. The base will rally politically, and possibly physically. (Let me know how it goes.)

3. The good GOP will now double down on DeSantis, to no avail.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 18, 2023

“The arrest secures the nomination for Donald Trump,” tweeted Rick Wilson, a political strategist who quit the Republican Party in protest against Trump. “The base will rally politically, and possibly physically.”

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a self-described libertarian who increasingly aligns with Republican positions and who overturned Trump’s Twitter ban, went further.

“If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory,” Musk said in a tweet.

(AFP)

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