A grand jury in Manhattan has voted to indict former US President Donald Trump in connection with the payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has said she had a relationship with him.
The money was paid by Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 election campaign, in exchange for Daniels to keep quiet about the relationship.
The indictment itself has not yet been made public.
Had to cancel
On Friday, Daniels comments on the development for the first time. On Friday evening, she was also originally scheduled to appear in an interview with the British TV personality Piers Morgan.
However, Morgan reports just after 9.30pm on Friday evening that the porn star had to cancel.
– Unfortunately, Stormy Daniels had to abruptly cancel our interview tonight due to security concerns that have arisen. Hope she is doing well, writes Morgan on Friday evening.
– Not untouchable
In an interview earlier Friday, Daniels says:
– Trump is no longer untouchable. No person in power is above the law, regardless of their position or what their bank account says, she says The Times.
– Keeps unraveling
– This is justice, she says further, and calls the decision “monumental and epic”.
But it comes with an aftertaste, she says, and refers to what she has had to go through in recent years. She also speaks to The Times from a secret location in the US. Shortly after the indictment became known, death threats began to pour in, writes the newspaper.
– Put him naked
– But I’m not afraid to face Trump in court, I’ve seen him naked. He can’t be scarier with his clothes on, says Daniels.
The case is – as Daniels mentions – monumental: It is the first time an American ex-president has been charged in a criminal case.
Trump denies having had a relationship with the porn star and has called the investigation “a witch hunt”.
He still denies paying her to keep close.
