Trump and the “historic accusation”… This is what we know so far

First boss

• If the arrest warrant is issued against Trump, the American billionaire will be the first president in US history to face criminal charges.

background investigations

• The investigation focuses on allegations from Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, that she took $130,000 from Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s attorney, weeks before the 2016 election to prevent Daniels from revealing an affair she says she had with Trump years ago.

Trump’s remarks

• Trump said that “the Republican candidate who is far ahead of others and the former president of the United States will be arrested next Tuesday.”
• He called on his supporters to protest, and blocked those trying to arrest him.
• In a separate post Saturday morning, Trump said America was “now dying.”
• “American patriots are rounded up and held like animals,” he added, while criticizing crime, inflation, prisons, and mental institutions.
• The former US president launched a scathing attack on the Attorney General in Manhattan, describing him as “corrupt and highly politicized.”

Trump’s lawyer: Arrangements have begun

• CNBC quoted Trump’s lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, on Friday as saying that criminal charges will be brought by a grand jury in Manhattan for the former president.
• The former president will respond and turn himself in if he is charged with a criminal offense and will not resist arrest.
• Attorney Joseph Tacopina said federal and local law enforcement agencies in Manhattan are preparing security arrangements for Trump to be charged in the next few days.

Where is Trump now?

• Trump, who has 24-hour protection by the Secret Service, currently lives in his home in Florida.

Speaker: Abuse of power

• On Saturday, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), announced an investigation into the local prosecutors who intend to sue Trump.
• McCarthy accused New York Attorney General Alvin Bragg of “disgraceful abuse of power” and “pursuing political retaliation against President Trump” in a tweet he posted Saturday morning.
• McCarthy stated, “I am directing the investigative committees immediately to investigate whether they are using federal funds to undermine our democracy by interfering with elections using political accusations.”

What did the democrats say?

• Some House Republican leaders, including Representatives Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga), have expressed support for the investigation.
• In response to the announcement, Democratic lawmakers accused McCarthy of abusing his power in turn by using the federal government to pressure local authorities.
• This investigation is part of a network of investigations that House Republicans are conducting against other government agencies that they accuse of “exploiting” federal resources to target conservatives.

Musk: He will be re-elected in a landslide

• American billionaire Elon Musk predicted that former President Donald Trump would end up in the White House in 2024 if he was indicted by prosecutors in Manhattan.

What do the legalists say?