Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Trump In Connection With Stormy Daniels Payments

According to reports, a Manhattan grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the so-called hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels in 2016. The felony indictment, which has been filed under seal by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, is expected to be announced in the next few days. Trump, who is the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges, will be required to surrender and face arraignment once the indictment is made public.

It has been reported that the lead prosecutors in the case met with the grand jury and read them the criminal statutes, after which they voted in favor of the indictment. The indictment was then filed with the court clerk’s office. The news comes as Alvin Bragg’s office, the District Attorney, is said to be examining an alleged $150,000 payment made to former Playboy model, Karen McDougal. Prosecutors may use the alleged hush money payment to McDougal to bring additional charges against Trump, as well as to establish a pattern of conduct by the former president, since alleged participants have claimed that Trump played a key role in the deals.

David Pecker, former CEO of American Media, gave testimony tying Trump directly to the payment to McDougal and to an alleged broader scheme to suppress negative stories about him during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s lawyers have maintained that he was not aware of the payment and has denied having an affair with McDougal.

Trump also remains under investigation in three other criminal investigations, including a federal investigation into his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election, a Georgia investigation into the same efforts, and another federal investigation into his handling of U.S. government records after leaving office.

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