According to a new report in the New York Times, prosecutors in Manhattan are signaing to Trump’s attorneys that and indictment is likely coming soon.
They write that Trump has been given the opportuinty to testify in front of a grand jury in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, which almost always signals that criminal charges are coming.
The Iowa caucuses are less than 11 months away. Democratic prosecutors in New York and Georgia, plus the Justice Department in Washington, are racing to indict Donald Trump. Right now, it looks like New York might be first. From NYT: https://t.co/FpPLBfgS3M
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2023
Here’s more from the NY Times:
The Manhattan district attorney’s office recently signaled to Donald J. Trump’s lawyers that he could face criminal charges for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn star, the strongest indication yet that prosecutors are nearing an indictment of the former president, according to four people with knowledge of the matter.
The prosecutors offered Mr. Trump the chance to testify next week before the grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the potential case, the people said. Such offers almost always indicate an indictment is close; it would be unusual for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, to notify a potential defendant without ultimately seeking charges against him.
In New York, potential defendants have the right to answer questions in the grand jury before they are indicted, but they rarely testify, and Mr. Trump is likely to decline the offer. His lawyers could also meet privately with the prosecutors in hopes of fending off criminal charges.
Any case would mark the first indictment of a former American president, and could upend the 2024 presidential race.
The Manhattan inquiry, which has spanned nearly five years, centers on a $130,000 payment to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. The payment was made by Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former fixer, who was later reimbursed by Mr. Trump from the White House. Mr. Cohen is expected to testify in front of the grand jury, but has not yet done so.
The district attorney’s office has already questioned at least six other people before the grand jury, according to several other people with knowledge of the inquiry.
Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors have not finished the grand jury presentation and he could still decide against seeking an indictment.
Mr. Trump has previously said that the prosecutors are engaged in a “witch hunt” against him that began before he became president, and has called Mr. Bragg, a Democrat who is Black, a politically motivated “racist.”
Even if Mr. Trump is indicted, convicting him or sending him to prison will be challenging. The case against the former president hinges on an untested and therefore risky legal theory involving a complex interplay of laws, all amounting to a low-level felony. If Mr. Trump were ultimately convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of four years, though prison time would not be mandatory.
It may be an untested and risky legal theory, but I guarantee you there are judges who are chomping at the bit to put Trump in jail. I hate to say that about our legal system, but with as many activist judges as we have you know I’m not wrong.
If they do end up indicting Trump – and I fully expect that to happen because this District Attorney undoubtedly wants to use Trump to make a big name for himself like they all do – I hope he gets a good judge who will treat him and his case fairly.
I would love to say Trump will find a way around this and I hope he does. But these people hate Trump and they want to stop him any way they can, even if it means using the legal system to do so.
UPDATE: Team Trump responds to the criminal charges leak:
Trump team responds to Manhattan DA reporting —> pic.twitter.com/25ZaOUtCIP
— John Santucci (@Santucci) March 9, 2023