New York is chomping at the bit on Wednesday pending a possible criminal indictment, which would be historic, of former United States President Donald Trump.
The 76-year-old Republican billionaire, who dreams of "returning" to the White House in November 2024, must answer in court in New York State for a case of payment of 130,000 dollars, just before his victory in the presidential election of November 2016, to an X-film actress, Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an affair.
After years of investigation by the New York prosecutor's office in Manhattan, its prosecutor Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, seems very close to announcing a criminal indictment -- which would be unprecedented -- of the 45th American president (2017-2021 ).
The latter, who lives in his residence in Mar-a-Lago (Florida), said on Saturday on his Truth Social network that he would be charged and "arrested" on Tuesday.
Nothing happened except for a few pro-Trump protesters outside the courthouse and Trump Tower in New York, and in Palm Beach, Florida.
Some US media are now speculating that a grand jury - a citizens' panel with broad investigative powers that works with Prosecutor Bragg - will vote on an indictment on Wednesday.
This grand jury must also meet in the afternoon and Mr. Bragg has arrived at his offices in lower Manhattan.
On the other hand, there would be no "arrest" immediately, according to the local press, and it would be necessary to wait until next week for Mr. Trump to appear in court in New York.
After having voluntarily "surrendered" to justice, he would be served with the prosecution and would, possibly and symbolically, be placed under arrest for a few minutes.
The former president, who has upset the balance of power in the United States since 2016, would then be photographed, his fingerprints taken and he could even be briefly handcuffed.
Radio silence at the Manhattan prosecutor's office because, according to the very codified American criminal procedure, grand juries operate in secret to avoid perjury or the bribery of witnesses before the trials.
In the meantime, New York is getting ready. Calmly.
New York City Police (NYPD) handlers set up metal barriers in front of the courthouse and Trump Tower in Manhattan.
And, to prevent any risk of clashes in a city with a violent history, the NYPD warned that "the presence of uniformed police officers would increase in the five boroughs of the megalopolis", even if there is " currently no credible threat to New York."
Mr. Trump, surrounded by several court files, assures him that he has committed "no crime" and is the victim of a "witch hunt" led by the Democrats.
The case of pornographic actress Stormy Daniels is legally complex.
New York justice is seeking to determine whether Mr. Trump is guilty of misrepresentation, an offense, or breach of campaign finance laws, a criminal offense, by having paid money to this woman, her real name Stephanie Clifford, just before the 2016 presidential election, which the Republican had won.
What purpose ? For her to conceal a supposed extramarital relationship ten years earlier, according to the prosecution.
The investigation accelerated last week.
Michael Cohen, former attorney and now Trump nemesis who paid off Stormy Daniels, testified before the grand jury. The actress has also cooperated with prosecutors and this same panel.
Donald Trump had also been invited to speak before this grand jury, according to the press.
The main fear of the authorities is a repeat of the violence of the assault on the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, when Donald Trump, defeated at the polls in November 2020, called on his supporters to challenge the results.
He still claims, baselessly, that the victory was "stolen" from him by President Joe Biden.
03/22/2023 17:49:16 - New York (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
