Former President Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury

Charges filed after alleged hush money paid to Stormy Daniels

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after an investigation into alleged hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, making him the first former United States president to face criminal charges. The charges come as Trump seeks the Republican nomination to run again in 2024. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg led the investigation which led to the charges.

Trump’s response to the indictment

Shortly after the news broke, Trump released a statement on his Truth Social platform, calling the indictment political persecution and election interference, characterizing the Democrats as liars, cheaters, and thieves. He added, “they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference.”

Responses from politicians and public figures

Florida governor and potential 2024 Republican nominee Ron DeSantis said the decision was “un-American,” and that Florida would not assist in an extradition request.

Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence called the indictment an outrage that would only serve to further divide the country. US Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer encouraged both Trump’s critics and supporters to let the process proceed peacefully and according to the law.

Trump’s former United Nations ambassador and candidate for the Republican nomination Nikki Haley said in an interview with Fox News that the indictment was more a political move than a search for justice. Meanwhile, Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani called the indictment a politically-motivated attack.

Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said in a statement released on Thursday that the grand jury, “acted upon the facts and the law” and that “no one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence.” Democratic US representative Adam Schiff tweeted that the country should “hold the rich and powerful accountable.”

Reactions to the indictment

Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen said the indictment was “not the end of this chapter” and that “no one is above the law, not even a former President.” Republican US senator Ted Cruz called the indictment “utter garbage, baseless and frivolous.”

Trump’s second oldest son, Eric Trump, called the indictment “third world prosecutorial misconduct.”

An unprecedented moment

The indictment of a former president is unprecedented, as is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been alleged. Schiff argued that a nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. He added, “to do otherwise is not democracy.”

The death of the rule of law

Today marks a turning point in our country. The indictment of Trump is a moment in the death of the rule of law. Our Founders are weeping – law is supposed to be fair, regardless of political party.

Credit: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/31/donald-trumps-indictment-2

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