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    Fmr. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Announces Presidential Bid

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Arkansas Governor — and noted Trump critic — Asa Hutchinson announced his decision Sunday morning to compete to become the next Republican nominee for president.

    In contrast to the GOP establishment’s decision to defend former President Donald Trump, Hutchinson called for Trump to drop out of the race following his indictment.

    Hutchinson’s announcement came during an interview with ABC’s Johnathan Karl:

    As Fox News reports:

    Hutchinson is the third Republican to announce a campaign and will face off against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump. Several another figures are expected to enter the race but have yet to do so.

    “I have made a decision, and my decision is I’m going to run for president of the United States,” Hutchinson told ABC News. “While the formal announcement will be later in April, in Bentonville, I want to make it clear to you…I am going to be running. And the reason is, I’ve traveled the country for six months, I hear people talk about the leadership of our country. I’m convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts.”

    Hutchinson has mulled a potential presidential run for months, receiving support from a new super PAC in February.

    He remains a long-shot candidate in what is expected to become a crowded field, however. While his only announced opponents are Haley and Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to announce his campaign soon.

    Report: Trump Facing 34 Criminal Counts in Unprecedented Indictment

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    8
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    CNN analyst John Miller broke the news last night that former President Donald Trump is facing 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records in the indictment against him.

    Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina reacted to the fast-moving developments on Fox News, telling Sean Hannity that the former president was “shocked” by the indictment. He added that Trump learned about the indictment through media reports and not from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

    Tacopina appeared on other media outlets this morning:

    As the New York Post reports:

    “He’s ready to fight. You know, he’s the toughest guy I know. He was shocked, you know, because we really weren’t – I was shocked,” Tacopina said of Trump’s reaction to the indictment. 

    “I’ve never been more angry about a charge because today, the rule of law in the United States of America died. It’s dead. It’s dead,” Tacopina said. 

    Tacopina added that he believes the reports that Trump will be charged with over 30 counts of business fraud.

    …

    “They’ll take each check and make that a count, perhaps, and that’s how they’ll do it because the checks are paid to Cohen,” he explained.

    Tacopina vowed to Hannity that Trump would win the case and Bragg would “pay the price.”

    According to Fox News, Trump is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:15 p.m. in Merchan’s courtroom on the 15th floor at 100 Centre Street in New York City.

    In addition to Trump’s personal attorney Joe Tacopina, a second source has confirmed that Trump has made arrangements with the district attorney’s legal team to surrender without handcuffs. Detectives with the DA’s office will handle the arrest.

    Law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, New York Police Department, FBI, New York State court officers, and the DA’s office will meet Friday afternoon to finalize details about the logistics and security of Trump’s arrest.

    The Secret Service will determine how Trump is brought in, the source familiar said. 

    Trump issued a scathing statement following the news of the indictment.

    “This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history,” Trump said. “From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats — the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country — have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement.”

    “The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference,” Trump claimed. “Never before in our Nation’s history has this been done.”

    “Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace,” Trump said. “Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults he should be focused on. This is how Bragg spends his time!”

    Grand Jury Votes to Indict Former President Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    5
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in a hush money bribe to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

    Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges.

    The New York Times has more:

    An indictment will likely be announced in the coming days. By then, prosecutors working for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, will have asked Mr. Trump to surrender and to face arraignment on charges that remain unknown for now.

    Mr. Bragg and his lawyers will likely attempt to negotiate Mr. Trump’s surrender. If he agrees, it will raise the prospect of a former president, with the Secret Service in tow, being photographed and fingerprinted in the bowels of a New York State courthouse.

    On Thursday, the three lead prosecutors on the Trump investigation walked into the building where the grand jury was sitting in the minutes before the panel was scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. One of them carried a copy of the penal law — with Post-it notes visible — which was likely used to read the criminal statutes to the grand jurors before they voted. About three hours later, the prosecutors walked into the court clerk’s office through a back door to begin the process of filing the indictment.

    Fox News reported Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) is also investigating a $150,000 payment made to former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

    Specific charges remain unknown.

    Great America News Desk previously reported that prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with a felony by arguing that the alleged crime was committed to hide an illegal campaign contribution. The potential problem for Trump centers around how his company reimbursed former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to related charges and served time in prison.

    The payment to Daniels was listed as a legal expense and Trump’s company cited a retainer agreement with Cohen. The retainer agreement did not exist and the reimbursement was not related to any legal services from Cohen, thus setting up a potential misdemeanor criminal charge of falsifying business records. A report by NBC News said that Trump personally signed several of the checks to Cohen while he was serving as president.

    Prosecutors can elevate the misdemeanor to a felony if they can prove that Trump’s “‘intent to defraud’ included an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.”

    Prosecutors argue that the second crime is that the $130,000 hush payment was an improper donation to the Trump campaign because the money was used to stop a story to benefit his presidential campaign.

    Trump issued a scathing statement following the news:

    “This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history,” Trump said. “From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats — the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country — have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement.”

    “The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference,” Trump claimed. “Never before in our Nation’s history has this been done.”

    “Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace,” Trump said. “Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults he should be focused on. This is how Bragg spends his time!”

    Several conservative lawmakers and commentators reacted to the news on Twitter.

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Arizona Democrats Sue to Block Third Political Party From Ballot

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3

    The Arizona Democrat Party is reportedly suing to stop a third-party organization from accessing the state’s presidential ballot in the 2024 election. 

    The lawsuit targets No Labels, a centrist group that aims to give voters a “non-extreme” presidential option and has secured ballot access in three states, including Arizona. 

    Early reports from The Washington Post indicate the lawsuit targets Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) alleging he erroneously accepted signature petitions from the group.

    According to Fox News, Arizona Democrats also claim that No Labels which was established in 2010, a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization has failed to comply with federal election laws governing political parties, including donation limits and donor disclosure. Nonprofits are not legally required to disclose donors.

    “No Labels is not following the rules for political party recognition, while attempting to be placed on the ballot alongside actual, functioning political parties who do,” Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Morgan Dick told The Washington Post. “Arizonans deserve better and voters deserve to know who is behind this shadowy organization and what potentially nefarious agenda they are pushing.”

    Ryan Clancy, the chief strategist for No Labels, blasted the lawsuit.

    “This undemocratic and unscrupulous lawsuit is a disgrace,” Clancy said in a statement. “Next time you hear this crowd talking about protecting democracy, remember what they are really doing is protecting their turf.”

    Democrats fear that No Labels’ efforts to gain access to the ballot in Arizona and other states could work against President Biden’s re-election.

    However, No Labels contends its “unity ticket” would draw support “equally” from both parties.

    “At some point in the future, it could become clear that the public doesn’t want an independent ticket or that there is no path for one to win. Or we could find that there are no candidates with broad appeal or the courage to take on this challenge. If that happens, No Labels will not offer our ballot line to any presidential candidate,” the group said in a statement earlier this month. 

    The group has courted centrist lawmakers in Washington, D.C., such as Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) 

    Larry Hogan, a former two-term Republican governor of Maryland and honorary co-chairman of No Labels, has also been floated as a potential third-party candidate. Hogan has previously said he wouldn’t rule out a third-party presidential bid if Biden and Donald Trump are the Democrat and Republican nominees in 2024. 

    Manhattan Grand Jury Shares New Announcement -Delaying Potential Trump Indictment

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Manhattan grand jury weighing an indictment against former President Donald Trump will reportedly not meet again until late April, delaying any potential charges.

    A source close to the matter told POLITICO that the grand jury investigating the alleged hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels isn’t expected to hear evidence in the case for the next month largely due to a previously scheduled hiatus.

    However, District Attorney Alvin Bragg can adjust the schedule and ask the grand jury to reconvene if prosecutors want the panel to meet during previously planned breaks.

    POLITICO reports:

    The grand jury, which heard testimony in the Trump case on Monday, isn’t meeting Wednesday and is expected to examine evidence in a separate matter Thursday, the person said. The grand jury, which typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, is scheduled to consider another case next week on Monday and Wednesday, the person said, and isn’t expected to meet Thursday due to the Passover holiday.

    The following two weeks are set to be a hiatus that was scheduled when the grand jury was first convened in January, the person said.

    The unprecedented indictment hanging over Trump’s head stems from a $130,000 hush money payment he allegedly made to porn actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

    Prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with a felony by arguing that the alleged crime was committed to hide an illegal campaign contribution. The potential problem for Trump centers around how his company reimbursed former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to related charges and served time in prison.

    The payment to Daniels was listed as a legal expense and Trump’s company cited a retainer agreement with Cohen. The retainer agreement did not exist and the reimbursement was not related to any legal services from Cohen, thus setting up a potential misdemeanor criminal charge of falsifying business records. A report by NBC News said that Trump personally signed several of the checks to Cohen while he was serving as president.

    Prosecutors can elevate the misdemeanor to a felony if they can prove that Trump’s “‘intent to defraud’ included an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.”

    Prosecutors argue that the second crime is that the $130,000 hush payment was an improper donation to the Trump campaign because the money was used to stop a story to benefit his presidential campaign.

    Florida Democrat Chair Files Ethics Complaint Against DeSantis

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Florida Democrat chair Nikki Fried has filed an ethics complaint against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), accusing him of violating state law by accepting gifts from his political committee.

    The complaint centers primarily on a three-day retreat at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Fla., where DeSantis met with donors and Republican lawmakers.

    According to The Hill, the complaint cites several other expenditures by the committee, including $142,000 at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami for a meeting expense and nearly $12,000 for food and beverages at Dirty French Steakhouse in Miami.

    “This is yet another example of Ron DeSantis arrogantly thinking he is above the law. No one is above the law,” Fried said in a statement. “While Floridians face some of the highest property insurance and mortgage rates in the state’s history, DeSantis is hobnobbing with special interest donors and lining his pockets with freebies. Floridians deserve answers, and DeSantis needs to be held accountable.”

    DeSantis’s office brushed off that complaint as “politically motivated,” and dismissed Fried’s complaint on Monday with a similar remark.

    “Just like the one from two weeks ago, we’ll just add this to the list of frivolous & politically motivated attacks,” Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’s communications director, tweeted. “Louder for the Dems in the back: It’s inappropriate to use ethics complaints for partisan purposes.”

    Fried’s complaint is the second filed against DeSantis in less than two weeks.

    Make America Great Again Inc., the main super PAC aligned with former President Trump, filed a complaint earlier this month accusing the Florida governor of violating state and federal law by running a “shadow presidential campaign.” (RELATED: Ron DeSantis Hit With Ethics Complaint From Trump Super PAC)

    NBC News first reported the complaint alleges that DeSantis has already checked all the boxes for someone considering a run for the White House, including making stops in early primary states; writing a book; raising tens of millions of dollars to go into a state-level committee that could be transferred to a federal super PAC; and watching a constellation of supporter-led super PACs and an outside nonprofit group pop up, some with the stated intention of getting DeSantis to run for president.

    The pro-Trump super PAC says the combination of those steps violates a handful of Florida laws about officeholders’ accepting illegal gifts.

    “This letter provides ample evidence to support a finding of probable cause by the Florida Commission on Ethics that Governor DeSantis, in concert with certain associated political committees, political consultants and a 501(c)(4) organization, has solicited and received millions of dollars’ worth of illegal gifts in violation of Florida State ethics laws and the Florida Constitution,” the draft complaint reads. 

    Report: Trump To Blacklist Anyone Who Works For DeSantis

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    11
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The divide between former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) continues to grow.

    According to a new report by right-of-center publication RealClearPolitics, Trump’s campaign has informed conservative operatives that anyone who works for the Florida governor will be blackballed.

    According to sources with direct knowledge of the edict, Justin Caporale, who helps lead the advance team for the former president, has said that anyone who staffed a recent DeSantis book tour will be considered “persona non grata.” A top Trump ally was more comprehensive, telling RealClearPolitics that the prohibition would apply to more than just the junior aides tasked with setting up folding chairs and hanging banners.

    “It’s a time for choosing,” the source close to the former president said. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”

    The threat comes as Trump enjoys a commanding lead in the 2024 GOP presidential primary field. However, despite DeSantis’ undeclared status, the Florida Republican has easily cruised to second place in most 2024 hypothetical matchups, causing concern within Trump’s camp.

    According to a recent poll reported by Axios, DeSantis is leading Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head primary race in Iowa and tied in New Hampshire.

    Both DeSantis and Trump received 39 percent of support from respondents in a head-to-head primary election in New Hampshire. 

    When asked which GOP candidate is better suited to defeat President Biden, 48 percent of New Hampshire voters said DeSantis, while 46 percent said Trump.

    Fifty-four percent of respondents in Iowa view DeSantis as the better candidate to take on Biden, compared to 44 percent who chose Trump.

    The split turned personal for Trump when DeSantis responded to Trump’s possible indictment, telling reporters he had “no interest” in inserting himself into “some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA.” (RELATED: Florida Governor Breaks Silence on Potential Trump Arrest)

    “I’ve seen rumors swirl. I have not seen any facts yet, and so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said DeSantis. “But I do know this: The Manhattan district attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor and so he, like other Soros-funded prosecutors, they weaponize their office to impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety.”

    Trump is known to direct his ire toward conservatives he deems disloyal. Following Trump’s second impeachment trial he pledged to support primary candidates focused on ousting Republican lawmakers who voted alongside Democrats.

    “Even after the most effective Republican presidency, Trump is bringing back the loyalty test,” the organizer said. “Not loyalty to the country – but for a single candidate. It’s the American people who will ultimately decide who is the next president and many grassroots see through these desperate pleas for allegiance and instead wish there was a substantive debate about the future of our great country.”

    Other sources close to Trump say the Florida governor forced his hand by refusing to defend the former president.

    “It is very bad politics. This is a critical moment,” a prominent Republican operative said of the DeSantis decision not to rally to Trump’s defense. “I don’t know of any Republican voter that feels okay about what’s happening with President Trump.” The looming indictment, they added, was “the only thing that matters.”

    The news comes after Trump attacked DeSantis during a campaign rally in Texas over the weekend.

    A lengthy clip flagged by Mediaite showed the former president’s attacks not landing well with the crowd, who grew mostly silent. “Compared to how Trump’s crowd normally reacts to his bits, the reaction to his mocking DeSantis was practically dead air,” the report said.

    DeSantis Responds To Opponents Who Claim He Doesn’t Have Enough ‘Personality’ To Be President

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2

    Ron DeSantis is paying no attention to the critics.

    During an interview with Piers Morgan, the popular Florida Governor laughed off critics who claim he lacks the personality to be elected president.

    “One of the other criticisms that is used against you about your personality, probably because some people don’t know you very well, because those who do, who I’ve spoken to, tell a different story,” Morgan said. “But you’re being depicted in some of the national media as very intense, quite boring, charisma devoid.”

    Morgan said that one critic who reviewed DeSantis’ book said that DeSantis “would launch any charm offensive unarmed.”

    “Well, I appreciate the knocks on the book, it’s the number one book in America far and away,” DeSantis responded after chuckling. “I’ve sold more than any non-president in the history of the country in terms of the first week, so we’ve been doing pretty good, a lot of people like it.”

    “So here’s the thing, I think these are people who are in the political class, journalist class, politicians in, like, D.C. in particular, they get mad I don’t do the cocktail parties,” DeSantis said. “I don’t like rubbing elbows with other people. I like doing my job and then spending time with my family. That’s just what I do.”

    “A lot of the people that are criticizing, you know, they would say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t do well with donors. He doesn’t glad hand with them,’” he said. “And yet I raise more money than any non-presidential candidate in the history of America! Are you kidding me?”

    DeSantis concluded that “I deal better with regular people than I do with some of the people in the political class, and I think that has been true for the entire time I’ve been around”

    Manhattan District Attorney Finally Addresses Trump Indictment

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    12
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Manhattan District Attorney has broken his silence on the potential indictment of former President Donald Trump.

    On Thursday, Bragg addressed the claim by former President Trump that he would be arrested in connection to an investigation into a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, calling it the creation of a “false expectation.”

    According to The Hill, Bragg responded to demands by House Republicans pushing to force his testimony and turn over all documents and communication on the case, in a letter to Congress that such a move was an “unprecendent[ed] inquiry into a pending local prosecution.”

    Bragg’s general counsel sent a five-page letter to GOP House committee chairmen Jim Jordan(Ohio), Bryan Steil (Wis.), and James Comer (Ky.) regarding their request for documents and testimony in the Trump investigation.

    “The letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene,” Bragg wrote.

    “If charges are brought at the conclusion, it will be because the rule of law and faithful execution of the District Attorney’s duty require it,” he wrote.

    “The Letter’s allegation that the DA’s Office is pursuing a prosecution for political purposes is unfounded, and regardless, the proper forum for such a challenge is the Courts of New York, which are equipped to consider and review such objections.” 

    “Your letter treads into territory very clearly reserved to the states. It suggests that Congress’s investigation is being ‘conducted solely for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to “punish” those investigated,’ and is, therefore, ‘indefensible,’” he writes, pointing to a 1957 Supreme Court ruling limiting congressional investigations. 

    Trump wrote in a Truth Social post over the weekend that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday in connection to the probe, but as of Thursday morning, no charges have been announced and the grand jury weighing the case is not expected to meet for the rest of the week.

    “ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK,” Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social. “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!”

    Trump’s call was shortly followed by a demand from a trio of House Republican chairmen on Monday for testimony from Bragg ahead of his anticipated prosecution of Trump.

    “Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump,” McCarthy said on Twitter. “I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.”

    Prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with a felony by arguing that the alleged crime was committed to hide an illegal campaign contribution. The potential problem for Trump centers around how his company reimbursed former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to related charges and served time in prison.

    The payment to Daniels was listed as a legal expense and Trump’s company cited a retainer agreement with Cohen. The retainer agreement did not exist and the reimbursement was not related to any legal services from Cohen, thus setting up a potential misdemeanor criminal charge of falsifying business records. A report by NBC News said that Trump personally signed several of the checks to Cohen while he was serving as president.

    Prosecutors can elevate the misdemeanor to a felony if they can prove that Trump’s “‘intent to defraud’ included an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.”

    Prosecutors argue that the second crime is that the $130,000 hush payment was an improper donation to the Trump campaign because the money was used to stop a story for the purpose of benefiting his presidential campaign.

    New York Grand Jury Cancels Wednesday Meeting: Report

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    7
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The New York grand jury considering indicting former President Trump has canceled its Wednesday meeting, delaying the potential indictment.

    Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) reportedly told the panel of jurors they should still be on standby to report on Thursday. The grand jury empaneled for Bragg’s investigation typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

    The cancellation comes after Trump predicted over the weekend that he could be arrested as soon as Tuesday in connection with the probe.

    “ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK,” Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social. “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!”

    Earlier this week, Fox News reported the grand jury scheduled an additional witness on Wednesday. The report cited a law enforcement official familiar with the case who says he doesn’t expect the indictment to come until next week at the earliest.

    The officer also noted the logistical issues of closing down streets and putting lights up with generators, extra barriers, and extra police as well as public safety concerns as reasons for delaying the indictment.

    “If the former president does come up to Manhattan, there will be a major police presence and the area will get shut down. Trump has called on his supporters to protest ahead of a possible indictment, ” Fox News reports.

    On Monday, authorities were seen erecting barricades outside of the Manhattan Criminal Court.

    The unprecedented indictment hanging over Trump’s head stems from a $130,000 hush money payment he allegedly made to porn actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

    Prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with a felony by arguing that the alleged crime was committed to hide an illegal campaign contribution. The potential problem for Trump centers around how his company reimbursed former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to related charges and served time in prison.

    The payment to Daniels was listed as a legal expense and Trump’s company cited a retainer agreement with Cohen. The retainer agreement did not exist and the reimbursement was not related to any legal services from Cohen, thus setting up a potential misdemeanor criminal charge of falsifying business records. A report by NBC News said that Trump personally signed several of the checks to Cohen while he was serving as president.

    Prosecutors can elevate the misdemeanor to a felony if they can prove that Trump’s “‘intent to defraud’ included an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.”

    Prosecutors argue that the second crime is that the $130,000 hush payment was an improper donation to the Trump campaign because the money was used to stop a story for the purpose of benefiting his presidential campaign.

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