By John Ikani
Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced on his Truth Social platform that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday of next week over an alleged hush-money payment made to a porn star in 2016.
Prosecutors appear to be moving closer to an indictment, and if charged, Trump would become the first former US President to face criminal charges, creating an explosive and unpredictable development in the 2024 White House race as he seeks to clinch the Republican nomination again.
Trump, who is 76 years old, urged his supporters to protest and “take our nation back!” if he is arrested.
The investigation, led by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, is focused on the $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 election to keep her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump.
Trump has denied having had an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
He has also stated that the investigation is “blatant and unconstitutional” election interference and that it is not “a prosecution, it’s a persecution.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors are indicating that they are moving closer to an indictment.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Trump’s lawyer confirmed that the former president would surrender to face criminal charges if indicted.
However, not even a conviction in the hush money case would prevent him from running.
Still, an indictment could have significant consequences, energizing his supporters and galvanizing his critics.
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy responded with anger, accusing New York prosecutors of seeking “political vengeance” against Trump.
On the other hand, his Democratic predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, who was speaker during Trump’s first impeachment for inciting the January 6, 2021 rioting in the US Capitol, warned that Trump’s announcement would “foment unrest among his supporters.”
