President Donald Trump may face indictment in the Manhattan district attorney’s grand jury investigation into a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Leftist legal experts, including MSNBC contributor Neal Katyal, believe that an indictment is more likely than not.
Katyal cites that the DA’s office has called Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, to testify before the grand jury several times, which is a sign that the investigation is ongoing.
Additionally, the fact that the Manhattan DA’s office investigated the case earlier, paused, and then restarted it suggests that they have something they believe they can show to a court against Trump.
It is illegal to harass someone simply because you hate them. They do this to Trump for the sole purpose of trying to keep him from running – also illegal
This one – already tried, and lost.
Our justice system so broken.https://t.co/IIr9dEy3SW— Unedited (@UneditedView) March 14, 2023
Moreover, the office has offered Trump the opportunity to testify before the grand jury next week if he wishes. While this does not necessarily indicate an imminent indictment, it does suggest that criminal charges may follow. The grand jury investigation, which has been ongoing for five years, centers on the $130,000 payment made to Daniels by Cohen on behalf of Trump to keep her from disclosing their alleged affair. The payment may have been an illegal donation to Trump’s campaign.
Trump’s attorney, Susan Necheles, argued that the DA’s threat to indict Trump for the payment made to Daniels is unprecedented and an outrageous selective prosecution, given that he was the victim of extortion. However, hush money is not illegal, but prosecutors may argue that the payment was an improper donation to Trump’s campaign, which would be a violation of campaign finance laws. This theory remains untested and risky, making the case against Trump uncertain.
Trump may also face charges for falsifying business records concerning the Stormy Daniels payments, a misdemeanor offense. However, if prosecutors can demonstrate that he intended to defraud or conceal, the charge could be elevated to a felony. If convicted, Trump could face four years in prison, but there is no mandatory sentence.
The New York investigation is not the only legal challenge facing Trump. The Fulton County District Attorney in Georgia is investigating allegations that he interfered in the 2020 election. A federal special counsel is also investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents and his relationship to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
The possibility of an American president being criminally indicted is unprecedented, and how this will play out remains to be seen. However, legal experts suggest that an indictment is more likely than not, given the DA’s ongoing investigation, the invitation for Trump to testify before the grand jury, and the potential charges for falsifying business records. Moreover, the case against Trump is based on a risky legal theory involving a complex interplay of laws, making the outcome uncertain in the politically motivated matter. Nonetheless, if Trump is indicted, it could have significant political and legal implications, potentially changing how future presidents are held accountable for their actions in a politically motivated judicial system.
