Criminal Charges Possible for Donald Trump for Suspected Involvement in Stormy Daniels Hush Money Payment
Manhattan prosecutors have signaled to former President Donald Trump that he could face criminal charges relating to his alleged role in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, according to four unnamed sources cited by The New York Times.
Opportunity to Testify Implies Imminent Indictment
The former president has been told that he could appear before a Manhattan grand jury next week if he wished to testify. Such invitations almost always mean an indictment is close, and Trump’s attorney has confirmed that he has been invited to testify.
First Indictment of a Former President if Charged
If Trump is charged, it would mark the first ever indictment of a former president and add to legal challenges faced by Trump as he seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2024.
Prosecutor May Still Decline to Indict
While being given the opportunity to testify indicates that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg could charge the president, the prosecutor could still decline to indict Mr Trump.
Invitation to Testify Implies Evidence Implicating Trump
Legal experts suggest that the invitation to testify implies that prosecutors have evidence implicating Trump in a crime. If he does appear, he will have to waive immunity and answer the prosecutor’s questions.
Trump Dismisses Allegations as “Political Witch Hunt”
Trump has dismissed the allegations against him, calling them a “political witch hunt” in a statement on his recently launched social media platform, Truth Social.
Michael Cohen Imprisoned for Hush Money Payments
In 2018, Trump denied knowledge of any payment to Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual liaison with Trump and received $130,000 before the 2016 presidential election in return for not discussing their encounter publicly. Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in orchestrating the hush money payments to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also claimed to have had an affair with Trump.
Trump Facing Multiple Legal Challenges and Investigations
In addition to the Daniels case, Trump is facing investigations into his alleged handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Conclusion
Based on the available information, it appears that Manhattan prosecutors are signaling that former President Donald Trump could face criminal charges relating to his alleged role in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. The fact that he has been invited to testify before a grand jury suggests that the prosecutor may be preparing to seek criminal charges. However, it’s important to note that Mr. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has referred to the investigation as a political witch hunt.