Sandy MaloneNew York, NY – A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The grand jury has been hearing testimony about hush money payments allegedly authorized by President Trump back in 2016, before he was elected, WNBC reported.
Prosecutors launched the investigation into what became the scandal over porn star Stormy Daniels in 2018 after the President’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, claimed he paid her $130,000 on his client’s behalf ahead of the Presidential election.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted out of charging President Trump in 2019 even though Cohen implicated him in his own plea deal, FOX News reported.
And the Federal Election Commission (FEC) dropped its investigation into the alleged hush payments in 2021.
But three officials familiar with the matter told NBC News that the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former President Trump on March 30.
The twice-impeached former President would be the first American President to be criminally indicted if the grand jury votes to move to a trial.
The 45th President has already announced his intention to run for the GOP nomination for the 2024 election, FOX News reported.
The indictment could hold serious implications for his election prospects but legally, would not prevent former President Donald Trump from running for office again.
It was the former President himself who went public about what he called “illegal leaks” and said he thought he might be arrested soon, FOX News reported.
🚨MAJOR BREAKING: Donald Trump has officially been INDICTED by a Manhattan grand jury on criminal charges relating to his illegal hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump is the FIRST president in U.S. history to be indicted. He’ll soon be booked, fingerprinted and have his… pic.twitter.com/ZEyMDNeN0u
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) March 30, 2023
They just indicted President Trump.
Unfortunately for them, this will only make him. stronger. I didn’t think I could possibly support him more, but this political Witch Hunt only strengthens our resolve to fight.
We’ve got your back, Mr. President. pic.twitter.com/qoNGeF5aSP
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) March 30, 2023
Supporters of former President Trump were outraged on social media.
BREAKING: Trump has been indicted in NY.
If we allow a former president to become a political prisoner based on FAKE charges brought by a Soros funded prosecutor, we LOSE OUR COUNTRY!
This is WAR!
If @RonDeSantis doesn’t mobilize the FL National Guard to protect Mar-a-lago,… pic.twitter.com/EJ8hbMo68v
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) March 30, 2023
BREAKING: Manhattan Grand Jury has indicted former U.S. President Donald J. Trump
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 30, 2023
Donald Trump has been indicted by the Manhattan grand jury.
Last year, Alvin Bragg lowered 52% of all felony charges to misdemeanors.
But now he chose to elevate a misdemeanor past the statute of limitations to a felony to indict Trump.
Total banana republic shit.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 30, 2023
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Holly Matkin
