Mr. Trump has repeatedly derided the investigation as a partisan “witch hunt” orchestrated by his political enemies and called Mr Bragg, a Black Democrat, “” racial segregation”.
On Thursday, in a lengthy, unbridled statement on Truth Social, Mr Trump denied having an affair with Ms Daniels and insulted her appearance while referring to the investigation as part of a conspiracy to stop her. he returned to the White House. He and his followers, he wrote, were “victims of this corrupt, depraved and weaponized justice system.”
Any case of impeachment against a former president would be unprecedented and with Mr Trump running for re-election for a third time, could shake up the 2024 presidential primary campaign in difficult ways. forecast. Now, Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors are closer to prosecuting Mr. Trump than anyone else who has pursued him for years.
However, an indictment is not guaranteed. Mr. Bragg could delay or refuse to prosecute, and Mr. Cohen’s testimony could influence that decision.
Even if Mr. Trump is indicted, sentencing or sending him to prison is uncertain, and bringing charges will be an important gamble for Mr. Bragg. The case against the former president revolves around a risky legal theory involving two different bodies of law, and if Trump is ultimately found guilty, he will face a maximum sentence of four years, though although jail time will not be mandatory.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers will no doubt also target the prosecution’s key witness, Cohen, who in 2018 pleaded guilty to federal charges related to hush money as well as the allegation that he spoke lied to Congress about a potential deal on Trump’s hotel in Moscow. Defense attorneys could use his guilty plea as a basis to attack his credibility as a witness and argue that he has an ax against Mr.
But prosecutors could counter that Mr. Cohen was found guilty of lying on behalf of Mr. Trump and that he was best positioned to explain the former president’s involvement in the hush money story to the prosecutors. judge. Cohen’s testimony could shed light on that sequence of events, giving prosecutors the firsthand account they need to bring a case against Mr. Cohen has also provided documents to prosecutors, people familiar with the matter said.
