Has Donald Trump Been Arrested? USA On Alert
Former US President Donald Trump has claimed he will be arrested today for allegedly paying porn star Stormy Daniels to silence him. As Trump supporters take to the streets, the country has been on alert for possible clashes between Trump supporters and opponents. But if Trump is arrested, he will be the first former US president to be charged with a crime and brought to New York from his Florida home.
Former US President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he expects to be arrested today. The 76-year-old politician has urged authorities to protest if his supporters are detained and charged.
TRUMP’S MEETING HAPPENED
Trump supporters began to gather in front of Trump’s Florida home today in front of the Manhattan Attorney’s Office and in front of Trump Towers in New York. Officials in New York have announced that they are making extensive preparations for the demonstrations that would erupt if Trump is arrested. New York police announced that they had sent 700 police officers to the protests. It was stated that the administrators in the state also held extraordinary meetings against possible protests. Officials are reportedly concerned about clashes between pro-Trump supporters and opponents.
Trump made a lengthy statement describing the investigation as “a political witch hunt trying to overthrow the Republican Party’s leading candidate.” “I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I criticize the corrupt, immoral and armed justice system,” Trump said. However, a spokesperson for Trump said they had not received news of his arrest.
But the lawsuit in which the Republican politician paid porn star Stormy Daniels towards the end of her 2016 presidential campaign in exchange for her silence about the alleged incident is just one of the cases Trump was involved in.
Other ongoing lawsuits against Trump include the Georgia election interference investigation and two federal investigations into Trump’s role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
WHAT WILL TRUMP DO NOW?
Trump, who accuses Manhattan’s Democratic district attorney Alvin Bragg of targeting him for political gain, could seek the charges to be dropped on these grounds, lawyers reported.
It may also object whether the statute of limitations (in this case five years) has expired. However, in New York, the statute of limitations can be extended if the defendant is out of state. Trump could argue that serving as president of the United States should not be included in this period.
Politically, it’s unclear how a possible indictment will affect Trump’s 2024 presidential election.
CAN BE A FIRST
Trump could be the first former U.S. president to face criminal prosecution, as polls show he’s ahead of other possible prospects for the Republican nomination, including Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
This could lead to an unprecedented case of Trump as he runs a campaign in 2024. If he didn’t send Trump, he wouldn’t be empowered to pardon the charges against him.
“TRUMP WILL ALWAYS SURVIVE”
On the other hand, Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said that if a criminal complaint is filed against him, his client can surrender in any case. Tacopina reported that if Trump voluntarily refuses to come, prosecutors may seek his extradition from his current Florida residence.
WHAT WILL THE Prosecutor’s Office DO?
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been investigating Trump for nearly five years. He presented proof of the $130,000 payment to Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential campaign to a grand jury in New York.
The payment was allegedly made in exchange for Daniels’ silence about her relationship with Mr Trump. Trump denied having an affair with the adult movie star and accused Daniels of blackmailing him.
However, any indictment from the district attorney’s office would require Trump to go to the New York office to surrender. But Trump’s lawyers will likely arrange a date and time with officials. Then, before going to court, the criminal record record will be photographed and fingerprinted.
Trump could also be charged with falsifying business records, which is often classified as misdemeanor, after he reimbursed his former attorney Michael Cohen for payments that were mistakenly recorded as legal services.
THE PROCESS WILL TAKE MORE THAN ONE YEAR
For prosecutors to consider it a felony, they will need to show that Trump falsified records to cover up a second crime. In any case, legal experts estimate that the trial of the former US President will take more than a year.
Therefore, if a lawsuit is filed, it may coincide with the last months of the 2024 elections, an undisputed period when Trump wants to return to the White House.
