INDIA: Former US President Donald J. Trump’s lawyers have been signalled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office that he could face criminal charges in light of his part in the payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. Four people who are cognizant of the matter would aid in the rendering of the indictment against the former president.
As per reports, Stormy Daniels claimed she had an affair with Trump, and the Manhattan inquiry centred around five years of a $130,000 payment to the pornstar. The payment that was paid during Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen’s 2016 presidential campaign was later reimbursed by the former US President from the White House.
According to media reports, Cohen claimed that Trump had asked him to pay Daniels so that she would not testify in front of the court. Six people were questioned by the district attorney’s office in light of the incident. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges related to the hush money.
The people mentioned that Trump had been asked to testify next week in front of a grand jury that has been assessing information and evidence with respect to the case at hand.
Defendants in the grand jury can answer questions before they are formally charged or accused, but they seldom testify. The offer is likely to be declined by former US President. A meeting between his lawyers and the prosecutors could take place in order to fend off the charges.
District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg is yet to finish the grand jury presentation and would still have to decide on seeking the indictment. A spokesperson for Trump stated that, “The Manhattan District Attorney’s threat to indict President Trump is simply insane. It’s an embarrassment to the Democrat prosecutors, and it’s an embarrassment to New York City.”
In the past year, Trump has been cautious about answering questions under oath given the legal tension. Former US President was deposed in 2022 in a civil case where he declined to furnish any information, taking the immunity of the Fifth Amendment right to decline answering any questions.
He will not have immunity this time with respect to the hush money if he testifies to the grand jury.
Also Read: Biden to Consider Holding Immigrant Families in Detention: Reports
