On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump will face a New York court for an arraignment arising from an indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney. The case, which centers around a $130,000 payment made by Mr. Trump to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, comes as the president’s stature within the Republican Party continues to grow.
Mr. Trump, who has denied the allegations of a sexual encounter with Daniels, is expected to turn himself in, accompanied by the US Secret Service and will be processed with fingerprinting and photography. In the vicinity of the court house, streets are expected to be blocked off in preparation for possible protests.
In response to the indictment, Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, has stated that the ex-president’s legal team will be filing a motion to dismiss the case. He has said, “This is a case of political persecution.” The strength of this rhetoric is echoed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Mr. Trump’s strongest allies in Washington, who has encouraged people to make the journey to New York to voice their support.
The indictment of Mr. Trump has been criticized by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to enter the 2024 president election race soon. He has argued that the prosecution is merely political, rather than based on the rule of law. Mr. Bragg, the district attorney, has responded to Republican claims, accusing them of attempting to impede a legitimate investigation.
The situation has seen strong public opinion from both sides. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted March 30-31 showed Mr. Trump’s lead over Mr. DeSantis in a 2024 presidential election matchup had increased to 26%. An ABC News/IPSOS poll showed that almost half of Americans believe the charges against Mr. Trump are politically motivated.
On Saturday, Mr. Trump took to social media expressing his gratitude over the support he had received in the wake of the indictment. He wrote, “We are now living in a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, but we will Come Back & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” The Trump campaign has announced it raised over $4 million in the twenty-four hours after the news of the indictment was made public.
The former president is set to leave for New York on Monday and stay overnight in his Trump Tower. While some Republicans have called for him to step aside ahead of the 2024 election, the support surrounding him shows no sign of slowing. Senator Lindsey Graham, who spoke to Mr. Trump on the night of the indictment, suggested he should move on to attacking those he feels have wronged him and the nation.
Mr. Trump is an icon of the Republican party, with his name synonymous to success and power. Trump Organization, which he founded in 1971, is a business venture that has developed many successful ventures and set broken records in real estate and other industries. He is an effective leader, able to stir emotions and rally supporters to his side.
Alvin Bragg is the Manhattan District Attorney for New York City. After joining the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2011, he quickly made a name for himself rising through the ranks to eventually become the district attorney in 2021. He is well respected in the legal community and known for his dedication to justice and his respect for public service.
