Breaking: Bragg Indicts Trump (Update: Trump Responds)

 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted President Trump late Thursday. This is the first time any president has been charged in a criminal matter.

During Bragg’s campaign, he promised to indict Trump, a fact that many legal experts believe could harm any chance of conviction. Though the specifics remain under seal, the indictment follows an investigation centering on a $130,000 payment made by Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 and served time for charges related to campaign finance violations and tax fraud. He claimed that Trump directed him to make the payment and that Trump reimbursed him in monthly installments that included a bonus.

The grand jury in the case was not scheduled to reconvene until late April. Bragg still had the power to call for a vote on the indictment even though they were not in session.

Bragg’s obvious political agenda isn’t the only fact hampering a conviction.

The charge likely focuses on falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanor. Even if Bragg is able to shift that up to a felony, New York’s statute of limitations for most felonies is five years, making this case two years too late.

Update (6:27 p.m. ET): Trump just issued a statement.


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  1. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Thank you for the background.

    • #1
  2. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    I have long since ceased to care about artificial Trump drama. But, the rest of you, have fun arguing pointlessly about it.

    • #2
  3. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    I have long since ceased to care about artificial Trump drama. But, the rest of you, have fun arguing pointlessly about it.

    Every time I think I got away…   They pull me back in!

    As usual, I don’t see this as about Trump.  This is the government I sulating itself from change, Constitution be damned.

    By this time next year, it could be illegal to express this opinion.

    • #3
  4. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Every time news like this breaks, I think of this tweet:

    • #4
  5. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Anybody remember when President Trump sought to jail Clinton because of the Illegal email server? But by all means, keep telling us that he was the Fascist threat to our Republic.

    • #5
  6. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    BDB (View Comment):
    As usual, I don’t see this as about Trump.  This is the government insulating itself from change, Constitution be damned.

    I’m resigned to the fact that we already live under a Soviet-style authoritarian state, and the state has already insulated itself from change by instituting junkmail ballot laws in enough states to ensure a permanent Democrat majority.

    Did you see what happened in Tennessee today? A mob of left-wing protesters stormed the capitol. Safe bet that none of them will see any jail time; much less be locked away for months in solitary without charges.

    The war is over. We lost.

    • #6
  7. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):

    Every time news like this breaks, I think of this tweet:

    The walls are closing in!

    • #7
  8. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Moving down that line. 

    • #8
  9. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    • #9
  10. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Think they will lock him up for a trial in a few years.  Just like the J6 folk?

    • #10
  11. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Think they will lock him up for a trial in a few years. Just like the J6 folk?

    Trump is now the Nelson Mandela of American politics; minus the crazy wife who sets people on fire.

    • #11
  12. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):

    Every time news like this breaks, I think of this tweet:

    The walls are closing in!

    Another bombshell.

    • #12
  13. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Think they will lock him up for a trial in a few years. Just like the J6 folk?

    Trump is now the Nelson Mandela of American politics; minus the crazy wife who sets people on fire.

    She sets me afire!

    • #13
  14. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Think they will lock him up for a trial in a few years. Just like the J6 folk?

    Yes

    • #14
  15. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

     

    • #15
  16. Charles Mark Member
    Charles Mark
    @CharlesMark

    Democrats hunting witches again, I see. 

    • #16
  17. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    This will knock Trump out of the election.  I am sure key states while exclude him from the election for it.

    • #17
  18. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    9thDistrictNeighbor (View Comment):

     

    No noes! Ron mentioned Soros. He hates the Jooooos.

    • #18
  19. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    What is interesting is that Trump’s attorney(s) were not notified of the indictment(s) by Bragg’s office today. The indictment has not been published yet. So we don’t know if the charge or charges contain a felony or misdemeanor charge.

    • #19
  20. Patrick McClure Coolidge
    Patrick McClure
    @Patrickb63

    So my Trump primary vote is now solidified.

    • #20
  21. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    And just like that, the United States got a new flag. 

    • #21
  22. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Update:

    A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed the indictment and said prosecutors had reached out to Trump’s defense team to arrange a surrender. A person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to discuss sealed proceedings, said the surrender was expected to happen next week. District Attorney Alvin Bragg left his office Thursday evening without commenting.

    • #22
  23. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    This country has become third world. I’m sick of this. I wish I could hibernate from all politics but it’s not just politics. Transgenderism, gay marriage, corruption, judicial abuse. The rot has seeped into every facet of society. 

    • #23
  24. Joseph Stanko Coolidge
    Joseph Stanko
    @JosephStanko

    Biden Relieved After Learning The President Being Indicted For Shady Financial Dealings Is Just Trump

    • #24
  25. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Joseph Stanko (View Comment):

    Biden Relieved After Learning The President Being Indicted For Shady Financial Dealings Is Just Trump

    They’ve had that one ready to go for weeks.

    • #25
  26. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Meanwhile, we have an Attorney General who flat-out lied about U. S. Marshalls being given the authority to decide not to arrest protesters outside the homes of Supreme Court justices. Perjury. No consequences.

    • #26
  27. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Percival (View Comment):

    Meanwhile, we have an Attorney General who flat-out lied about U. S. Marshalls being given the authority to decide not to arrest protesters outside the homes of Supreme Court justices. Perjury. No consequences.

    It’s good to be king. 

    • #27
  28. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Percival (View Comment):

    Meanwhile, we have an Attorney General who flat-out lied about U. S. Marshalls being given the authority to decide not to arrest protesters outside the homes of Supreme Court justices. Perjury. No consequences.

    So?  Lying is the normal way of legal / law / government.   They can lie and you can not.  It is how our country works.  They are just getting around letting everybody know it.

    • #28
  29. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Manny (View Comment):

    This country has become third world. I’m sick of this. I wish I could hibernate from all politics but it’s not just politics. Transgenderism, gay marriage, corruption, judicial abuse. The rot has seeped into every facet of society.

    If God does not issue some severe punishment, and soon, He owes a sincere apology to Sodom and Gomorrah.

    • #29
  30. James Salerno Inactive
    James Salerno
    @JamesSalerno

    Lying to the President about the number of troops in Syria? A lie that can actually get people killed and waste billions of dollars? No court martials, no punishment.

    Hush-money payment to a skank, which costed as much as a hand full of limo rides, suits and haircuts (i.e., normal campaign expenses)? Let’s indict the President.

    • #30
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