New drama in New York: justice has postponed, perhaps until next week, the possible criminal indictment of former President of the United States Donald Trump, several media reported on Wednesday.
The 76-year-old Republican billionaire, who dreams of “returning” to the White House in November 2024, must answer in court in New York State for a payment of 130,000 dollars, made just before his presidential victory of November 2016, to an actress of X movies, Stormy Daniels, with whom he would have had an affair.
After years of investigation by the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, his prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, seemed since last week to announce a criminal indictment – which would be historic – of the 45e US President (2017-2021).
It was Donald Trump who, from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, sparked a media and political storm on Saturday by writing in capitals on his Truth Social network that he would be charged and “arrested” on Tuesday.
But prosecutor Bragg remained silent, and nothing happened as announced by the former head of state.
There are currently no credible threats in New York
Grand jury meeting canceled
On Wednesday morning, US media besieging the Manhattan courthouse speculated that a grand jury — a citizens’ panel with broad investigative powers that works with District Attorney Bragg — will vote on an indictment in the aftermath. -noon.
But to believe the New York Times and online media Insider, which rely on two court sources, Wednesday’s grand jury meeting was called off.
Insider says that panel won’t vote until the end of the week, even if it was to meet on Thursday. The grand jury sits on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Questioned by Agence France-Presse, a spokesperson for the prosecutor refused to “confirm or comment on questions related to the grand jury”.
And even charged, Mr. Trump would not be “arrested” immediately. It would take several days for him to appear in Manhattan.
In this case, after having voluntarily “surrendered” to justice, he would be notified of the proceedings and would be, symbolically, placed under arrest for a few minutes.
The former president, who has upset the balance of power in the United States since 2016, would then be photographed, his fingerprints taken, and he could even be briefly handcuffed.
In the meantime, New York is getting ready. Calmly.
New York Police Department (NYPD) handlers set up metal barriers in front of the courthouse and Trump Tower in Manhattan on Tuesday.
And, to prevent any risk of clashes in a city with a violent history, the NYPD warned that “the presence of uniformed police officers would increase in the five boroughs of the megalopolis”, even if there is ” currently no credible threat to New York.”
“No offense”
Mr. Trump, surrounded by several court files, claims to have committed “no offense” and to be the victim of a “witch hunt” led by the Democrats.
The case of pornographic actress Stormy Daniels is legally complex.
New York justice is seeking to determine whether Mr. Trump is guilty of misrepresentation, an offense, or breach of campaign finance laws, a criminal offense, because he paid money to this woman, of her real name Stephanie Clifford, just before the 2016 presidential election, which the Republican had won.
What purpose ? For her to keep quiet about a supposed extramarital affair that occurred 10 years earlier, according to the prosecution.
The investigation accelerated last week.
Michael Cohen, former lawyer and now enemy of Trump, the man who paid off Stormy Daniels, had testified before the grand jury. The actress has also cooperated with prosecutors and this same panel.
Donald Trump had also been invited to speak before this grand jury, according to the New York Times and the washington post.
He called on his supporters on Saturday to “protest”, and gave them an appointment for the next presidential election, November 5, 2024, to “return” to the White House.
So far there have been a few dozen protesters outside the New York courthouse and Trump Tower, and in Palm Beach, Florida.
The main fear of the authorities is a repeat of the violence committed during the storming of the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, after Donald Trump, defeated at the polls in November 2020, called on his supporters to challenge the results.
He still claims, baselessly, that the victory was “stolen” from him by President Joe Biden.