The reading of the indictment against former US President Donald Trump in New York becomes a spectacle. But how is it going now?
New York – donald trump made history again. The 76-year-old is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges. In the indictment, the public prosecutor’s office accuses him of falsifying business documents in 34 cases. He wanted to hide harmful information and illegal actions before and after the 2016 presidential election. The focus of the allegations is the payment of hush money to the former porn actress Stormy Daniels and the former playboy-Model Karen McDougal.
Trump and others have systematically tried to identify negative information about him, suppress it with money and thus increase his chances in the 2016 US election. Trump went to great lengths to cover it all up, making dozens of false entries in business records. Attempts to violate electoral laws are among the criminal acts he has tried to cover up. Under New York law, it is a criminal offense to conspire to advance a candidate in an election by illegal means.
What are the chances of prosecution in the Donald Trump case?
Although the allegations against Trump are massive, it is still unclear whether there will be a conviction. According to experts, the New York City Attorney’s Office has never linked a charge of forgery of business records to an election violation involving a presidential or federal election campaign. Since this is new territory, the court could throw out the case altogether, or at least downgrade the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Trump is currently facing a maximum sentence of four years.
In addition, the public prosecutor’s office also faces other questions that need to be clarified. “Was it really Trump’s intention to deceive or did he rely on bad legal advice?” Lance Fletcher told the TV station ABC. The former Manhattan assistant district attorney continued, “If the money came from his personal account, was it used to solve a personal problem?” After all, according to Fletcher, the alleged use of shell companies and recordings of conversations between Trump and his ex Attorney Michael Cohen to show Trump was aware of making “improper” payments.
Charges against Donald Trump: how to proceed
The further procedure after the indictment is read out will take a long time. Before a trial there is a series of hearings and the opportunity to make various applications. Trump’s lawyers could try to delay the processes and bring a process to burst. Trump himself is not scheduled to appear in court again until December 4th.
Prosecutors suggested January 2024 as a possible start date for Trump’s trial, but the defense has argued for a later date – in late spring 2024. The judge said it was prudent to proceed as soon as possible. In November 2024 is in the USA the next presidential election. The internal party primaries are expected to begin in February 2024.
How Donald Trump Responds to the Charges
Trump pleaded not guilty in court. He then left the court without a word. He only commented again in the evening when he gave his first public address after the indictment reading to a handpicked audience at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida estate. Trump said the charges against him were “massive election interference on a scale unprecedented in our country.” He is running as a candidate for the presidency republican for the 2024 US election and portrays the prosecution against him as a politically motivated attempt to eliminate him for the election. He described the indictment as ridiculous, the responsible District Attorney Alvin Bragg he called a loser.
Trump announced several months ago that he wanted to run again in the election. A trial and a potential conviction in the New York case could at best affect Trump’s plans for a renewed presidential candidacy from a political point of view. In purely legal terms, on the other hand, Trump could theoretically also compete as a convicted criminal in the election. However, the criminal proceedings in Manhattan should not be the last. The legal avalanche that is rolling towards Trump could bury his campaign. (cs/dpa)
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