According to the New York Times, Manhattan prosecutors suggested that former President Donald Trump, 76, could face criminal charges because of his alleged role in paying off adult film star Stormy Daniels, 43. The former president was told he could appear before a Manhattan grand jury next week if he wished to testify, which the Times points out almost always mean an indictment is close.
Trump Could Face Criminal Charges For Paying Off Stormy Daniels
One of Trump's lawyers confirmed to Reuters that the former president had been invited to testify before the grand jury. "He has a chance to appear before the grand jury as all people subject to an investigation do," Trump attorney Susan Necheles said.
If Trump is charged, he would become the first former president in American history to be indicted. This would also add to Trump's legal challenges as he seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2024. Even though Trump is being given the opportunity to testify suggesting that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg could charge the president, the prosecutor could still decline to indict Trump.
Marc Scholl, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office, revealed to Reuters his opinion on Trump's indictment. He believes that because Trump is being given an opportunity to testify, this must mean that the grand jury had heard evidence implicating him in a crime. "The invitation should mean the prosecutor is preparing to seek criminal charges. If [Trump] does appear, he will have to waive immunity and answer the prosecutor's questions," he said.
Trump posted on Truth Social, a social media platform created by Trump Media & Technology Group, called it a "political witch hunt" and that he did not cheat on his wife Melania Trump, with Daniels. He wrote, "I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I have wanted to have an affair with Stormy Daniels. This is a political Witch-Hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party."
Daniels has said she had a sexual relationship with the former president and received $130,000 ahead of the 2016 presidential election to keep their liaisons a secret. Trump has denied that anything happened with the adult film star and told reporters in 2018 that he knew nothing about a payment to Daniels.
Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to three years in federal prison in 2018. He was convicted for orchestrating hush payments to Daniels and another woman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, 51, who said she had an affair with the former president before he took office.
At the moment, Trump is facing multiple legal challenges. He has been investigated over his handling of classified government documents and his supposed efforts to deny and overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
