Twice-impeached former President Donald J. Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, this afternoon. It’s the first time in American History that a current or former president has been charged with criminal acts.
While the charges are currently unknown and the indictment is sealed, we will most likely find out what they are next week when Trump will be arraigned in court. This is according to his defense attorney Joe Tacopina.
The Manhattan DA has been investigating the former president’s alleged role in a hush money scheme and cover-up involving former porn star, Stormy Daniels. This dates back to 2016 when news of the payoff arose during Trump’s presidential campaign.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, was reportedly surprised by the decision to indict him and released this statement:
“This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history. From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats – the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country – have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement. You remember it just like I do: Russia, Russia, Russia; the Mueller Hoax; Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine; Impeachment Hoax 1; Impeachment Hoax 2; the illegal and unconstitutional Mar-a-Lago raid; and now this.
“The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference.
“Never before in our Nation’s history has this been done. The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before. Ever.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace. Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults he should be focused on. This is how Bragg spends his time!
I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden. The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So our Movement, and our Party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The decision is bound to rattle the already divided and fragile country and American political system. This is unchartered territory for sure with both sides already squaring off for a loud and verbal fight.
REELated:
As expected 45’s harshest critics in entertainment history are having a field day on Twitter:
“Finally!” Michael Moore wrote in all caps to his nearly 6 million Twitter followers. The Fahrenheit 9/11 director launched an anti-Trump one-man show in 2017 on Broadway. “Something,” said Moore, posting an image of an orange square.
“It’s finally happening,” comedian Kathy Griffin wrote on Twitter, thanking Daniels. Griffin had ignited controversy in 2017, including being questioned by the Secret Service, after posting a photo of herself holding a prop meant to look like Trump’s severed head.
“Happy Donald Trump is indicted Day!” songwriter Diane Warren wrote to her followers.
“Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, a frequent Trump critic, shared a gif of children dancing and tweeted, “Did somebody say indictment?”
“Let 2023 be the year of accountability,” George Takei, of Star Trek fame, wrote.
“Happy indictment day, to those who celebrate,” he added in another
And as expected those on other side are rushing to defend Trump.
According to The Hill, Florida Gov. (and probable 2024 presidential candidate) Ron DeSantis (R) called the indictment “un-American” and said the state would not assist in any extradition request.
“The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American,” added DeSantis.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Thursday vowed to hold Bragg (D) “and his unprecedented abuse of power to account” after news broke that former President Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury, the first time a sitting or former U.S. president has faced criminal charges.
McCarthy argued that Bragg, “irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election,” as Trump is in the middle of a 2024 campaign for another four years in the White House.
“Outrageous,” tweeted House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of the Republican committee chairmen who has demanded Bragg testify before Congress.
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, called the indictment “completely unprecedented” and said it is “a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system.”
How the charges and impending trial will affect Trump’s 2024 bid for another four years in the White House remains to be seen.
In December, the Trump Organization was convicted on multiple charges of tax fraud, though Trump himself was not charged in that case.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office will reach out to Trump’s attorneys to discuss his surrender.
Nominate Someone You know For 5th Annual Reel Women
