There is growing speculation that former President Donald Trump could be indicted by a grand jury as early as next week.
The former President is currently being accused of engaging in the felony falsification of business records. The claims levied against the New York native stem back to the 2016 presidential election. As the nation neared Election Day, the former President was accused of having intimate relationships with adult film star Stephanie “Stormy Daniels” Clifford and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal. Numerous reports accuse Trump and his associates of offering both women “hush money” in exchange for their silence.
Two years after Trump was elected, his former attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to a charge related to a $130,000 payment he allegedly offered to Clifford. After the initial payment was made, Cohen was reportedly reimbursed for the payment by Trump’s company through an expense that was classified as “legal fees.”
Cohen says that Trump authorized the payment to Clifford for the “principal purpose of influencing” the 2016 election. However, Trump denies having intimate relationships with McDougal and Clifford.
“[Michael Cohen] was his lawyer at the time and advised him that this was the proper way to do this to protect himself and his family from embarrassment. It’s as simple as that,” Trump’s current attorney, Joe Tacopina, told MSNBC.
“That is not a crime. It’s not a crime.”
The grand jury examining the case has not offered a timetable for their decision. However, Tacopina has said that his client will “follow the normal procedures” if he is asked to turn himself over to the authorities and appear in court.
