From NOTICE News Daily for March 21, 2023
Is former President Donald Trump about to be charged with a crime? It would be an unprecedented move with no parallel in American history – but it may happen soon. We take a look at this developing story and what he might be charged with.
MORE INFO:
- Go deeper: How Trump could be indicted: What to know about the hush money case (NBC News)
- And then… Donald Trump could be charged any day – what happens next?
- Getting ready: New York City Braces For Trump Indictment After Ex-President Urges Protests
- For context: Trump indictment would be unprecedented moment in US history (AP)
- Not the first: The police officer who arrested a president… in 1872 (Washington Post / Paywall 🙁 )
TRANSCRIPT
Former President Donald Trump may soon be arrested – an unprecedented move that has no parallel in American history.
Over the weekend, he sent a message to his followers on his platform Truth Social saying he was going to be arrested – today.
It seems unlikely that Trump will be arrested today. But media report law enforcement officials have been meeting about how an arrest might go down.
The former president is being investigated by several authorities in several places – but it’s the Manhattan District Attorney in New York City who may bring charges first.
It all revolves around a so-called “hush money” payment made at the end of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Authorities allege Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid a woman on behalf of then-candidate Trump to cover up an extra-marital affair, and that could have been considered an illegal campaign donation.
There are strict rules about what kind of donations and gifts can be given to political campaigns, and there are strict rules about how expenses are reported back to the government.
Intentionally misrepresenting expenses is also a crime.
We don’t know for sure what President Trump will be charged with until if and when he’s actually charged.
But some of the crimes experts think he might be charged with in this case could carry a sentence of up to 4 years in prison.
Trump and his supporters have called this and the other investigations a witch hunt: inappropriate and politically motivated.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy: “It doesn’t matter what side of the issue you’re on. It doesn’t matter if this was President Trump or if this was a democrat. It should be equal justice in America, and stop going after people because you have political differences”
All of this is taking place just as the 2024 campaign for president begins, and Trump is one of only two major Republicans to have announced their candidacy so far.
Trump says he’ll continue campaigning even if he’s charged with a crime.
