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Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Mar 30, 2023
Modified Mar 30, 2023
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Mar 30, 2023
Modified Mar 30, 2023
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A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict former President Donald Trump, a court official has confirmed.
The New York Times reported the charges are related to his role in the alleged hush money payment made to an adult film actress, the first-ever criminal indictment against a former president in U.S. history.
Trump's attorney had previously indicated he would voluntarily surrender to authorities, and The New York Times reported he was expected to turn himself in on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said they had reached out to Trump's attorney to coordinate his surrender, but provided no further information on an arraignment date.
The unprecedented indictment is the latest development in the yearslong saga surrounding the $130,000 payment that Trump’s former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair with Trump.
“For the first time in our country’s history, a President (current or former) of the United States has been indicted," Cohen said in a statement provided to Gothamist. "Today’s indictment is not the end of this chapter; but rather, just the beginning. Now that the charges have been filed, it is better for the case to let the indictment speak for itself."
Cohen served prison time for orchestrating the payments, which were made in the lead-up to the 2016 election. But federal prosecutors ultimately decided not to bring charges against Trump.
Bragg, who faced criticism for pausing aspects of his office’s investigation into Trump’s finances, revived the hush money probe, impaneling a new grand jury earlier this year. His investigation is believed to focus on whether Trump violated the law by falsifying business records in order to conceal his reimbursement payments to Cohen.
The former president issued a statement denouncing the arrest as a political stunt.
“Never before in our nation’s history has this been done," Trump said. "The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a president of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for president, has never happened before. Ever.
Several media outlets and law enforcement officials were seen swarming the Manhattan courthouse in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's indictment announcement. Choppers were seen flying overhead, but there were no immediate signs of any major disruptions or protests as of 6:20 p.m.
Fabien Levy, spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, said Thursday the mayor was working with law enforcement to ensure public safety.
“There are currently no public statements or filings from DA Bragg, but the mayor is in constant contact with Commissioner [Keechant] Sewell about all public safety issues affecting the city," Levy said. "The NYPD continues to monitor all activity and there are no credible threats to the city at this time. The NYPD always remains prepared to respond to events happening on the ground and keep New Yorkers safe.”
The scene outside the Manhattan courthouse after several outlets reported former President Donald J. Trump will be indicted.
Catalina Gonella
Outside of the courthouse, Lisa Fithian and a group she was with stood next to a gigantic black banner that read, "Trump lies all the time."
"We have a giant 'Trump Lies All the Time' banner that we have carried for several years now," she said. "We first unveiled them at the Trump impeachment hearings in Washington, D.C. and we thought it was apropos based on this indictment."
Trump's lawyers, Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina, issued a statement Thursday evening confirming the indictment.
"He did not commit any crime," the statement said. "We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court."
In recent months, Manhattan prosecutors have called an array of high-profile players in Trump’s orbit before the grand jury, including Cohen, who is believed to be the star witness if the case goes to trial.
Trump has decried the investigation as a “political witch-hunt,” and called on his followers to protest his arrest. He has also denied having an affair with Daniels.
The former president had posted last week on Truth Social that he was expecting to be indicted on Tuesday, March 21. The prediction sparked a frenzy of demonstrations and protests throughout Lower Manhattan, but no decision had materialized by the week's end.
Trump is expected to be booked and fingerprinted in Manhattan Criminal Court, but will likely be released quickly by a judge, according to legal experts.
If the case does go to trial, it could take at least a year to begin, potentially coinciding with Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
The former president currently faces a web of legal challenges, including a criminal investigation into alleged election interference in Georgia and his handling of secret documents.
Contributed reporting by Catalina Gonella, Phil Corso and David Cruz.
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public safety
manhattan
Trump Indictment
Alvin Bragg
donald trump
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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