Police officers stand outside Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.Credit:AP
The Manhattan probe was one of several involving the actions of the twice-impeached president,and is regarded by legal experts as the weakest case against Trump.
Other investigations include aDepartment of Justice probe into the events of the January 6 Capitol attack;a Georgia-based investigation into election interference in that state;and another Justice Department investigation into the handling of classified documents.
However,the indictment represents the first time a US president – while in office or afterwards – has faced criminal charges.
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In an attack on Bragg and his team,Trump had warned of“potential death and destruction” if he was indicted.
“What kind of person can charge another person,in this case,a former president of the United States,who got more votes than any sitting president in history,and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination,with a crime,when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed,&also that potential death&destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country?” Trump wrote last Friday,US time.
While Trump is the frontrunner to become the 2024 Republican presidential candidate,about 44 per cent of Republicans say Trump should drop out from the contest after his charges,according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded this month.
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Legal experts say that a trial could be at least a year away. Prosecutors would also have to reach a high bar to win the case,including proving that the hush money was paid with the election solely in mind and that the payment was “falsely accounted” as a legal retainer to Cohen.
Cohen was a key witness in the grand jury investigation but has come under fire for being an admitted liar and convicted felon.
With Reuters,AP
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