Manhattan District Attorney’s long investigation into Trump concludes with indictment
Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury for his role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. The Manhattan district attorney had been investigating the case for a long time, which started while Trump was still in the White House. The indictment was unsealed and provided both the public and Trump’s legal team with details about the charges against him for the first time.
The allegations relate to a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels in late October 2016, days before the presidential election, to silence her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump from a decade earlier. The indictment lists more than 30 counts related to business fraud, according to CNN.
Reaction of Republicans in Bakersfield after Trump’s indictment
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has called the indictment politically motivated and believed that the American people see it the same way. Republicans in Bakersfield, who support McCarthy and Trump, see the indictment as a witch hunt meant to keep Trump out of office. However, a Quinnipiac poll suggests that most Americans believe that criminal charges should disqualify Trump from running for president again.
Views on the indictment are mixed among people in Bakersfield. Some believe that it is about time for justice to be served, while others believe that it is unnecessary or unjustified. There are concurrent investigations into other matters regarding Trump, including his handling of classified documents and attempting to overturn Georgia’s results.
McCarthy’s support for Trump is criticized by some Bakersfield residents who see it as an attempt to gain more power. They believe that McCarthy should have dropped Trump as soon as allegations became public. McCarthy has called on conservative committee chairmen to investigate whether the Manhattan district attorney used federal funds in his investigation. Trump’s base in Bakersfield wants McCarthy to continue supporting him as loyalty to Trump is seen as everything by some residents.
Donald Trump’s campaign against the Manhattan District Attorney and GOP interference
Donald Trump aggressively attacked Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who indicted him, calling him “a degenerate psychopath” and accusing him of working for anarchists and the Devil. Trump hoped to bully Bragg into dropping the case, but Bragg’s office denounced his efforts.
House GOP leaders James Jordan, James Comer, and Bryan Steil wrote to Bragg seeking his congressional testimony while grand jury proceedings were underway. The general counsel for the Manhattan DA’s office denounced the GOP congressmen’s request and urged them to refrain from unlawful political interference. Bragg’s office raised the prospect of Trump partisans possibly engaging in unlawful political interference. Jordan, Comer, and Steil may consider subpoenaing the New York prosecutor in response to the latest correspondence.
This is the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges. Trump is currently a few months into his third White House bid, and this criminal case jolts the 2024 presidential campaign into a new phase as he has vowed to keep running despite the criminal charges. The whole world will be watching as a US president is indicted in connection with criminal activities.
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