The New York district attorney lambasted House GOP’s efforts to investigate the Trump probe, using $5k federal funds

The Case for a New American President: The latest criminal indictment of an ex-president and the continuation of our once free and fair elections

The first-ever criminal indictment of a former American president creates a uniquely perilous moment for a polarized republic already repeatedly driven to the brink by the endless norm-busting of Donald Trump.

It is the latest stunning barrier shattered by the nation’s most unruly president. And it means that after a tumultuous four-year term, a historic two impeachments, an election falsely tainted by Trump’s lies about fraud and a mob attack by his supporters on Congress, a new national nightmare may be ahead.

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury for his role in covering hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

“We have been close before (but) we have never been at this point,” John Dean, former President Richard Nixon’s Watergate-era special counsel, told CNN. “No prior president – former, sitting or otherwise – has ever been indicted.”

The move was stunning because of Trump’s long record of disregard for the law and the conventions of accepted behavior with his private and professional lives. Suddenly, Trump will be held accountable. The former president will have to start answering for his conduct, likely beginning in court on Tuesday after he travels to New York to be arraigned in what will be a high-security spectacle given his past incitement of violence.

In light of the speed and significance of this news cycle, it’s worth remembering that Trump also faces scrutiny in other investigations that could lead to charges of their own.

The ex-president quickly showed he’s ready to drive the country into a deep political crisis as he mounts his defense with wild claims of persecution. He accused Democrats of weaponizing justice to thwart his 2024 White House bid – a claim that threatens to shatter the credibility of the next election in the eyes of millions of his followers and further damage US democracy.

“This is an attack on our country the likes of which has never been seen before,” Trump wrote in block capitals on his Truth Social network. There is a continued attack on our once free and fair elections. The USA is now a third world nation, a nation in serious decline. So sad!

The presumption of innocence and the right to privacy are the same as for all Americans accused of crimes, which is why Trump tried to overturn it on January 6, 2021. The perception of this case and the credibility of American justice hinges on two questions: Are all citizens equal under the law, and if so, how? Is Trump being treated unfairly because of who he is?

Even if there is plentiful evidence that makes this a relatively simple sell to a jury, the fame and the power of the defendant means the case will unfold in a court of public opinion. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is under enormous pressure since if he fails to secure a conviction, he will be accused even more than he already is of building a politicized case that could tear gaping new divides in the country.

Bragg already had some name recognition among Republicans who sought to tie his progressive positions on criminal justice – in a city they often depict as being besieged by violent crime – to national Democrats like President Joe Biden. In the run up to the indictment and the ensuing aftermath, many Republicans denounced Bragg’s investigation as a political stunt or an abuse of power.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted, “The American people will not tolerate this injustice,” and added that “The House of Representatives will hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account” – a comment that appeared to indicate a fresh attempt to use government power to interfere in an active case going through America’s independent legal system.

The No. 2 House Republican – Majority Leader Steve Scalise – called the indictment “one of the clearest examples of extremist Democrats weaponizing government to attack their political opponents.” The indictment was a witch hunt, and it was a dark day for America, according to the statement released by the House GOP conference chair. McConnell, Senate Republican leader, was the only one who commented on the past assault on American democracy and political desire by Trump.

It is not yet known how voters will respond to the indictment of Trump. And it is also unclear whether a possible trial would take place before the 2024 election or where the multiple other investigations into Trump’s conduct will be by then.

It is likely that the former vice president will be limited in his political ceiling within the GOP because he failed to intervene in the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Any immediate political boost Trump is able to engineer from the indictment could harm his potential strongest primary rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Like other potential candidates, DeSantis had no political room to do anything other than condemn the indictment – even though he has been portraying himself as a potential president who would be far more calm, methodical and effective in implementing a hardline conservative agenda than Trump was.

If New York attempted to extradite Trump, he’d refuse to do so and that could cause a constitutional crisis.

The rule of law is no longer the same as it was because of the weaponization of the legal system. It is un-American,” DeSantis tweeted. “Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.”

Whether or not Trump is guilty, the months ahead will be divisive and dangerous for America’s democracy, according to the Florida governor’s threat.

The grand jury’s indictment — and Trump’s charges — remain under seal, and NPR hasn’t been able to confirm other media reports that the DA may arraign Trump on Tuesday.

Trump is likely to be charged with a violation of New York penal code 175.10, falsifying business records in the first degree, says Kim Wehle, a former U.S. attorney and now a law professor at the University of Baltimore.

Even if the charge does not reach the heights that some people would expect a former president to reach, it is serious, according to Wehle.

Are Daniels Accused of a Sexual Relationship with the President? A Political Witch-Hunter Threat to Trump’s 2016 Term

Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Trump, received 130,000 dollars in exchange for not going public about it.

Cohen gave Daniels the money a couple of weeks before the election. After the victory, Trump reimbursed Cohen with his own checks. Despite denying having an affair with Daniels, Trump admitted to paying Cohen for the money she received.

The Trump Organization said that those reimbursement payments were for legal fees, which is not true. In New York, that’s a felony if it was done to cover up another crime — in this case, probably the violation of campaign finance laws, Wehle says.

NPR hasn’t been able to independently confirm whether Trump is still in Florida. Two reliable flight trackers have not registered movement on his private plane since the 757 flew to West Palm Beach five days ago.

Though DeSantis has yet to announce his candidacy, he’s widely considered to be a top 2024 Republican presidential contender — and a threat to Trump’s bid for reelection.

“I have no interest in getting involved in some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA,” he said, according to an account from POLITICO, making a reference to billionaire donor George Soros’ campaign donations. He is trying to do a political spectacle. I’ve got real issues I’ve got to deal with here in the state of Florida.”

The former president said the grand jury’s decision to indict him was political persecution and election interference.

The Democrats cheated, lied and stole to get to “Get Trump” but now they have done something crazy by indicting a completely innocent person.

On the day after Donald Trump’s indictment by a Manhattan District Attorney, the Oversight Chairman of the House attacked the ” political witch-hunt”.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been criticized for collaborating with the Trump administration in the investigation into the president’s former lawyer Adam Cohen

Democrats also rallied around a party message, but theirs was one of the need for blind justice, best summed up by the phrase “no one is above the law.”

“A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. “Especially when they do,” said Adam Cohen, a former impeachment manager.

Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and a key witness in the case, also said the indictment shows that “no one is above the law,” but took the moment to call for opinion on the matter to be decided in court.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is again slamming House Republicans for their efforts to intervene in its investigation into former President Donald Trump, accusing them of collaborating with Trump to “vilify and denigrate the integrity of elected state prosecutors and trial judges.”

According to Dubeck, CNN reported that the committees lack jurisdiction to oversee their state prosecution and that they may be acting more like criminal defense counsel trying to gather evidence for a client than a legislative body.

Dubeck specified that approximately $5,000 of federal forfeiture money was spent on expenses relating to Trump or the Trump organization between October 2019 and August 2021, and that most of that money had to do with Supreme Court litigation. The federal government secured more than one billion dollars in asset forfeiture funds over the last 15 years, according to Dubeck.

Dubeck also included details about the three federal grant programs the office participates in regarding its casework and shared, “no expenses incurred relating to this matter have been paid from funds that the Office receives through federal grant programs.”

“If you will not withdraw your request, we reiterate our willingness to meet and confer with you or your staff about how we can accommodate your request without violating our obligations as prosecutors to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal prosecution.”

Alvin Bragg vs. Jeff Sessions: The Case for Donald Trump and the Judiciary Body of the American Civil Libertarian Party

Rep. Barry Moore defended Republicans who attacked Bragg before seeing any evidence against Trump. Moore said that the indictment didn’t seem right.

“But when you have an attorney general in New York, a Manhattan DA, that targeted one particular American in their campaigns, I think that offends the notion of the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe in fairness, who believe in equal treatment before the law,” he told Blitzer in an interview Thursday evening.

One thing we are concerned about in Washington is if there is coordination between the DOJ and other entities who are trying to get rid of Donald Trump. “This is a political witch-hunt, they are doing everything in their ability to create a narrative that would hurt Donald Trump.”

“This is a politically-motivated prosecution by a far-left activist. If it was anyone else besides President Trump, the case would never be brought. Instead of ordering political hit jobs, New York prosecutors should focus on getting violent criminals off the streets,” he said.

In a conversation with CNN, she said that she keeps Trump up to date on the House Oversight Committee’s investigative priorities.

“The person denigrating integrity, the integrity of our entire judicial system is Alvin Bragg, this Soros-funded political activist who is occupying the Manhattan DA’s office,” said Johnson on Fox News on Friday. He spent all his time and resources going after the former President. Why? The timing is important as the President wants to run again.

Asked if he would consider re-evaluating after seeing evidence, Moore replied, “I’m open to thinking that. But I’m in the garbage business, you know, and so a lot of times, I know how to spot a pile of garbage, and this thing looks like a pile of garbage.”

The indictment could help the presidential chances of Trump. When he was a state representative in Alabama, Moore was indicted on perjury charges and found not guilty.

He said the weekend after he was indicted, they had more people knock doors. “… The people saw it for what it was, so we did. The American people see what it is.