The US metropolis of New York is preparing for possible unrest in the event of an indictment by former US President Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to a porn actress. The grand jury examining the case appears determined to complete its work shortly.
Trump had claimed over the weekend without evidence that he would be arrested on Tuesday. His lawyers later said he relied on media reports and whistleblowers. Meanwhile, there were initially no publicly available signs that the ex-head of state’s prediction could come to fruition.
On Monday, the grand jury heard what Trump believed to be a favorable witness – probably also to ensure that statements that could be exculpatory for the 76-year-old can be taken into account. Attorney Robert Costello has ties to several of Trump’s former associates. From the point of view of the ex-president’s allies, his testimony may have marked a last opportunity to dissuade the grand jury from indicting him.
The next steps in the procedure, which was characterized by secrecy, initially remained nebulous. It was unclear whether more witnesses would be summoned. Remembering the riots surrounding Trump supporters’ storming of the US Capitol to confirm Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election on January 6, 2021, the city’s authorities nevertheless took steps to prepare for the eventuality to make provisions for the unprecedented indictment of a previous President. For example, the security measures in front of the courthouse were tightened.
Porn actress Stormy Daniels testified last Wednesday that she received $130,000 ahead of the 2016 US presidential election that elected Trump to office. Trump denies having had sexual contact with Daniels and any other woman. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who is said to have processed the payment, also testified about the allegations against Trump.
The cash flows may have violated campaign finance laws. The payment itself is legal, Columbia University law professor John Coffee told AFP. On the other hand, it is illegal to falsify a company’s commercial documents. The Trump Organization as a company declared the reimbursement of the hush money to Cohen as legal fees – this is a fake, he explained.
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