The Ex-President Whose Running for Preside is a Witch-Hunter, and How It Will Backfire on Joe Biden
Donald Trump will become the first former president to face criminal charges in the middle of his presidential campaign.
The ex-president has been the subject of a lengthy investigation by the district attorney about his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office will reach out to Trump’s attorneys to discuss his surrender to face an arraignment.
The American political system has never seen a president have criminal charges against them, so the decision to run again is sure to shock the nation.
The city of Montanardo. Well, he’s obviously going to try to use it and fire up his base even more than he already has. He’s already doing that. He attacked the district attorney for calling the indictment political persecution, transparent election interference and a witch hunt that will backfire on Democrats. Trump has the support of Republicans on Capitol Hill. Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House, called the indictment an abuse of power. And House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan put out a one-word statement. It said everything was out of line. So you are on your way.
“I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” the former president said. “The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So our Movement, and our Party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Donald Trump vs. McCarthy: The case against a grand jury indictment that would convict him of crimes in 2024
A healthy respect for the legal system also requires Americans to set aside their politics when forming judgments on these cases. While Mr. Trump routinely called for his enemies to be investigated by the F.B.I., to be indicted or to face the death penalty, his indifference to due process for others shouldn’t deny him the system’s benefits, including a fair trial and the presumption of innocence. At the same time, no jury should extend to him any special privileges as a former president. He should follow the same procedures as everyone else.
Trump was caught off guard by the grand jury’s decision to indict him, according to a person who spoke directly with him While the former president was bracing for an indictment last week, he began to believe news reports that a potential indictment was weeks – or more – away.
The legal action against Trump jolts the 2024 presidential campaign into a new phase – where the former president has vowed to keep running in the face of criminal charges.
Trump has avoided legal consequences for much of his life. He has settled a number of private civil lawsuits through the years and paid his way out of disputes concerning the Trump Organization, his namesake company. As president, he was impeached twice by the House and avoided conviction by the Senate.
Trump’s Republican allies – as well as his 2024 GOP rivals – have condemned the Manhattan district attorney’s office over the looming indictment, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has vowed to launch an investigation into the matter.
“Outrageous,” tweeted House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of the Republican committee chairmen who has demanded Bragg testify before Congress about the Trump investigation.
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, called the indictment “completely unprecedented” and said it is “a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system.”
We have a judge. We have impartial people to look after our money. There are appeals. So I think in the end, justice will be done. If he is guilty, it will show up. I think it will be shown if that is not the case.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html
Trump’s Investigative Charges Come During His First Presidency-Principle-run-Runaway with the Federal Prosecutor
According to court filings in Cohen’s own federal prosecution, Trump Organization executives authorized payments to him totaling $420,000 to cover his original $130,000 payment and tax liabilities and reward him with a bonus. The Trump Organization noted the reimbursements as a legal expense in its internal books. Trump has denied knowledge of the payment.
All this plays into Trump’s feelings of being used by the left to cause his downfall, as well as his supporters who are out to get him, because the system is rigged.
And to Trump’s messaging, two-thirds of people overall think that the charges in New York are not that serious, and 6 in 10 say the investigation is politically motivated. The decision is made by a grand jury, not by a prosecutor or a judge. The grand jury hears evidence from the prosecutor, then makes a decision on whether to indict a suspect. And, you know, if it’s a conspiracy, you know, a jury of his peers appears to be in on it.
Not really. Richard Nixon, the former president, never faced charges because Gerald Ford pardoned him. You have to go all the way back to 1872 in order to find a president who was arrested. You know, President Ulysses S. Grant was speeding – arrested for speeding with his horse-drawn carriage in D.C. But, you know, let’s not overlook the fact that Trump is now the first former American president to face criminal charges.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167254662/trumps-historic-indictment-comes-during-his-presidential-primary-run
Demographers’ view of Trump’s brand of ineptness during his term-indictment-presidency-primary-run
It’s a pretty big wild card when you think that preserving democracy is one of the most important issues facing the country. And that’s true of persuadable voters. Independents, for example, ranked preserving democracy second behind the economy. Trump’s brand, we know, has been toxic in competitive states in the last few elections, and he’s at risk with independents. Majorities don’t have a favorable opinion of him and that they believe that he should not be president.
MONTANARO: Very tough to say because 80% of them say they have a favorable opinion of Trump. Three-quarters say they want him to be president, and there are not any Republicans who are really making a sustained effort against him.
FLORIDO: Of course, this is a developing story. We’re waiting to hear from you over the next few days. I am very grateful to Domenico Montanaro.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167254662/trumps-historic-indictment-comes-during-his-presidential-primary-run
The First President of the United States, William West, and the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. A New Indictment for a Presidential Speeding Violation
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The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says William West was a former enslaved person who joined the Metropolitan Police after fighting in the Civil War. When he jumped in front of the carriage that was racing towards him, West was on the lookout for speeding horse-drawn carriages.
West issued a warning after pulling over President Grant. But the very next day, West caught the president speeding again and brought him in.
“I am very sorry, Mr. President, but I will have to place you under arrest for being the leader of the nation, sir, and I will not be allowed to leave you,” West said in 1872.
The release of Grant was on a bond of $20, which equates to a little over $500 in ten years. He didn’t contest the fine or arrest and expressed respect for West’s decision to arrest him. The Memorial Fund reported that former MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said Grant had been issued three citations for speeding in his carriage during his time as president.
The two cases are very different. Trump’s charges are far more serious than a traffic violation. When it comes to respecting the legal process, Trump doesn’t seem like he’s following in Grant’s footsteps of respecting West’s decision to arrest him.
It’s not clear what this indictment will do to Trump’s chances of winning a 2024 election bid — but maybe Trump can take solace in the fact that the same year Grant was arrested for speeding, he was also elected to his second term as president.