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Follow the latest news on the impeachment of Trump live
Trump is expected to turn himself in next week for arraignment
MADRID, 31 (EUROPA PRESS)
The former president of the United States, Donald Trump, has been charged this Friday in the framework of the investigation against him for the alleged payment of a bribe to the porn film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, a president has been indicted. I take comfort in validating the adage that no one is above the law, not even a former president. Today’s indictment is not the end of this chapter, but the beginning,” said former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, reported CNN.
The Manhattan Prosecutor’s Office had offered Trump the chance to testify in this case of alleged bribery, in which Cohen was an instrumental part by giving Clifford some $130,000 (120,000 euros) so as not to reveal that he had alleged relations with the tycoon almost 20 years ago. years; a management carried out irregularly by being hidden in the accounts of the Trump Organization, Trump’s company, during the 2016 electoral campaign.
DONALD TRUMP DENOUNCES “POLITICAL PERSECUTION”
Donald Trump has responded to his accusation, which he has described as “political persecution and electoral interference”, through a statement. “This has never been done before in the history of our nation,” he has reproached.
“From the moment I walked down the escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Democrats of the radical left — the enemy of the working men and women of this country — have engaged in a witch hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement,” Trump said.
He has assured that he is “a completely innocent person” and that the Democrats are “obsessed with ‘Catching Trump'” and have committed an act of “blatant electoral interference”, also speculating about the District Attorney in charge of the case: “Alvin Bragg, who has been personally chosen and financed by George Soros, is a shame.”
“Democrats have cheated countless times over the past few decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our judicial system to punish a political opponent, who happens to be a president of the United States and the longest-running Republican candidate. successful, it has never happened. Never”, he stated.
In addition to attacking the Democrats, Trump has also had words for the current US president: “I think this witch hunt is going to have a huge impact on Joe Biden. Americans will realize exactly what the radical Democratic left is doing. All the The world can see it. Our movement and our party, united and strong, will defeat first Alvin Bragg and then Joe Biden, and we will kick all these corrupt Democrats out of government to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
HIS LAWYERS WILL APPEAL THE IMPUTATION
One of the lawyers on Trump’s legal team, Alina Habba, said in a statement that Trump “is a victim of the American system’s and history’s corrupt and distorted version of justice.”
“President Trump has been indicted. He has committed no crime. We will vigorously pursue this impeachment in court,” two more Trump lawyers, Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina, said in a statement to NBC.
Another of the lawyers, Chris Kise, has criticized the indictment in a statement: “What was once the most respected office of the District Attorney, has been completely degenerated by an opportunistic politician who seeks, like many others, to take advantage of the brand Trump. The complete lack of legal basis, coupled with the politicized nature of the prosecution, should strike fear into every citizen of this country, regardless of their views on President Trump.”
For his part, the lawyer for the porn actress Stormy Daniels has stressed that Trump’s accusation “is not cause for joy”, but rather a sample of the “hard work and diligence of the jury” that must “be respected”. “No one is above the law,” she added.
TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO SURRENDER NEXT WEEK
One of Trump’s team lawyers, Joe Tacopina, has told NBC that they expect Trump to go to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office early next week, when according to sources close to the case, he is expected to the former president is prosecuted.
The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that they are in contact with Trump’s legal team to arrange his voluntary surrender, although no date has been confirmed, according to a statement from a spokesman for the prosecutor, Alvin Bragg.
This indictment implies that Trump has been formally charged with a crime, with his arrest, voluntary or involuntary, being the next step in the judicial process. US media report that after the arrest, which is being planned with his lawyers so that it is carried out in the most efficient way, it is possible that the former president’s fingerprints will be taken and a mugshot will be taken that could be disclosed to the public. press.
Then there will be a preliminary hearing in which Trump will be able to hear the charges against him and appeal them, and it is possible that during the time these statements last, Trump will be released preventively. After the hearing, it will be decided whether or not to proceed to trial.
