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

    James Salerno (View Comment):

    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.

    Thoroughly modern Milley calling the ChiComs to reassure them that he would consult with them first if he got any orders he didn’t like.

    It was a coup!

    • #31
  2. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: 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.

    Yeah, yeah.  And how much did Clinton pay Paula Jones?

    • #32
  3. No Caesar Thatcher
    No Caesar
    @NoCaesar

    Trump will not be the only President to see a criminal indictment.  He’ll be the first one.  And now the avenue is open to really go after Biden and other Dems.  Outside of any dark blue enclaves it will not be hard to procure an indictment of Biden, given the information already in the public domain.  I just hope Biden lives long enough to go to trial.  As someone noted, the irony is that Trump chose not to go after Hillary, according to Barr.  Instead he said it would make us look like a banana republic.

    It’s worth remembering that the US is the historical anomaly.  We are now deteriorating and reverting to the mean of human history.

    • #33
  4. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    No Caesar (View Comment):

    Trump will not be the only President to see a criminal indictment. He’ll be the first one. And now the avenue is open to really go after Biden and other Dems. Outside of any dark blue enclaves it will not be hard to procure an indictment of Biden, given the information already in the public domain. I just hope Biden lives long enough to go to trial. As someone noted, the irony is that Trump chose not to go after Hillary, according to Barr. Instead he said it would make us look like a banana republic.

    It’s worth remembering that the US is the historical anomaly. We are now deteriorating and reverting to the mean of human history.

    I really, really don’t want to see this become a pattern, where every time we have a Congress of one party with a president of the other that we have an impeachment, followed by the prosecution of each former president if he is replaced by one from the other party.  This is going to be a nightmare for everyone.

    • #34
  5. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    I really, really don’t want to see this become a pattern, where every time we have a Congress of one party with a president of the other that we have an impeachment, followed by the prosecution of each former president if he is replaced by one from the other party.  This is going to be a nightmare for everyone.

    Sadly, it most likely will.

    Leftists destroyed all the norms of our political system, while projecting their goals onto Trump. Many Prim and Proper Republicans fell for the narrative, and now our Country is on life support.

    • #35
  6. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    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.

    And now maybe you understand what I mean when I say that I love America, but hate our government; a comment which prompted you to invite me to emigrate to another country.

    Maybe you understand now?

    • #36
  7. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    I really, really don’t want to see this become a pattern, where every time we have a Congress of one party with a president of the other that we have an impeachment, followed by the prosecution of each former president if he is replaced by one from the other party. This is going to be a nightmare for everyone.

    Sadly, it most likely will.

    Nah, because Republicans will always play the chumps.

    Which is why we need to be shut of them and form an actual conservative party.

    • #37
  8. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):
    Nah, because Republicans will always play the chumps

    True, but it won’t stop Democrats from doing this again.

    • #38
  9. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):

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

    The left has become all the things they complain about Trump:

    • they demagogue issues (e.g., GA voting law is “worse than Jim Crow)
    • they use “ends justify the means” logic for all actions (This prosecution on just one example)
    • they are corrupted by a foreign goverment (how many of the elite lefties are in bed with the CCP – including the “big guy”)
    • They whine when they don’t get their way
    • They are addicted to media

     

     

    • #39
  10. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    The left has become all the things they complain about Trump:

    I think it’s the opposite, the Trump Boogeyman was a projection of the left from the outset. They created the perfect villain for their narrative by staring at a mirror.

    • #40
  11. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    The left has become all the things they complain about Trump:

    I think it’s the opposite, the Trump Boogeyman was a projection of the left from the outset. They created the perfect villain for their narrative by staring at a mirror.

    Trump is his own worst enemy. He whines, he demagogies, he is very addicted to media.

    • #41
  12. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Trump is his own worst enemy. He whines, he demagogies, he is very addicted to media.

    There is a major difference between Trump the braggart who plays fast and loose with the facts, and Trump the Fascist who prosecutes political opponents and destroyed our political system. The former is a legitimate criticism of Trump, the latter a projection of the Left’s own political will. As other’s have said, there are few criticisms of Trump that couldn’t be applied to Biden. We are seeing in the Biden White House everything that the Left told us Trump would be.

    • #42
  13. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Trump is his own worst enemy. He whines, he demagogies, he is very addicted to media.

    There is a major difference between Trump the braggart who plays fast and loose with the facts, and Trump the Fascist who prosecutes political opponents and destroyed our political system. The former is a legitimate criticism of Trump, the latter a projection of the Left’s own political will. As other’s have said, there are few criticisms of Trump that couldn’t be applied to Biden. We are seeing in the Biden White House everything that the Left told us Trump would be.

    I agree with that – they called all GOP nominees and presidents a fascist since Goldwater in 64. 

    • #43
  14. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    This story came out when? 2016? And now they are drudging up the details which were settled already again? If you missed a 5 min segment on Tucker Carlson with guest Glenn Beck, it will sum up what many feel – including me. I have been following Beck since he was in NY and on Fox – the best part about him and the worst part is that he is right about everything he talks about. It always plays out and this is no different.

    I have neighbors whose families had to escape Vietnam when the communists came as teens with their families – they had to leave all belongings – fled to Japan and then here. They’ve worked for Silicon Valley Hi Tech for decades and a year ago fled CA.  They are both engineers and are two that would walk thru fire and across broken glass for Trump (as Beck describes) because they lived through what is happening to our country now. They are his biggest fans. Our families feel the same way. It’s going to get ugly.

    https://www.foxnews.com/media/glenn-beck-slams-indictment-donald-trump-america-knew-finished

    • #44
  15. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    This is the destruction of the Republic. 

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    • #45
  16. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    • #46
  17. She Member
    She
    @She

    BDB (View Comment):

    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.

    Mostly:

     

    • #47
  18. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    This is a truly terrible action, which will probably cause a truly terrible reaction. 

    • #48
  19. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    You know what’s funny. Every time I speak the truth about how tired of the situation is, somebody wants to tell me to keep fighting and not surrender. 

    • #49
  20. Goldwaterwoman Thatcher
    Goldwaterwoman
    @goldwaterwoman

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):
    Leftists destroyed all the norms of our political system, while projecting their goals onto Trump. Many Prim and Proper Republicans fell for the narrative, and now our Country is on life support.

    We’ve been a Banana Republic since 2000. We’re still counting hanging chads.

    • #50
  21. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):

    We’ve been a Banana Republic since 2000. We’re still counting hanging chads.

    At least we had paper ballots.

    • #51
  22. Joseph Stanko Coolidge
    Joseph Stanko
    @JosephStanko

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    You know what’s funny. Every time I speak the truth about how tired of the situation is, somebody wants to tell me to keep fighting and not surrender.

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

    • #52
  23. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Joseph Stanko (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    You know what’s funny. Every time I speak the truth about how tired of the situation is, somebody wants to tell me to keep fighting and not surrender.

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

    Yeah. 

    Go find for me the post where I call for giving up. 

    I’ll wait. 

    • #53
  24. AMD Texas Coolidge
    AMD Texas
    @DarinJohnson

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    You know what’s funny. Every time I speak the truth about how tired of the situation is, somebody wants to tell me to keep fighting and not surrender.

    How dare them!

    • #54
  25. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    AMD Texas (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    This is the destruction of the Republic.

    There is no case for optimism. No one in power cares at all about the health of America, only their grasping power.

    All the more reason to not surrender……..

    You know what’s funny. Every time I speak the truth about how tired of the situation is, somebody wants to tell me to keep fighting and not surrender.

    How dare them!

    Yeah.

    As I said, find for me where I said give up. 

    I’ll waut.

    • #55
  26. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    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.

    And now maybe you understand what I mean when I say that I love America, but hate our government; a comment which prompted you to invite me to emigrate to another country.

    Maybe you understand now?

    This is from a handful of political operatives. This isn’t even from a majority of Democrats. 

    • #56
  27. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    I really, really don’t want to see this become a pattern, where every time we have a Congress of one party with a president of the other that we have an impeachment, followed by the prosecution of each former president if he is replaced by one from the other party. This is going to be a nightmare for everyone.

    Sadly, it most likely will.

    Leftists destroyed all the norms of our political system, while projecting their goals onto Trump. Many Prim and Proper Republicans fell for the narrative, and now our Country is on life support.

    Fell for what narrative?  What did you want Republicans to do that they didn’t?

    • #57
  28. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    The left has become all the things they complain about Trump:

    I think it’s the opposite, the Trump Boogeyman was a projection of the left from the outset. They created the perfect villain for their narrative by staring at a mirror.

    Trump is his own worst enemy. He whines, he demagogies, he is very addicted to media.

    He does and combined with his boorish behavior, it brings on derangement. He has contributed to it but this indictment is BS. 

    • #58
  29. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Manny (View Comment):

    Fell for what narrative?  What did you want Republicans to do that they didn’t?

    The narrative the Trump was the existential threat to our Country, rather than the left.

    As for what I wanted them to do there’s quite a list, but I’ll start with those slogans they love to repeat: Repeal and Replace, Balancing the Budget, Securing the border. Most of the things Trump was doing by himself with EO’s could have been enshrined into law had the GOP supported him.

    • #59
  30. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Manny (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    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.

    And now maybe you understand what I mean when I say that I love America, but hate our government; a comment which prompted you to invite me to emigrate to another country.

    Maybe you understand now?

    This is from a handful of political operatives. This isn’t even from a majority of Democrats.

    Er, . . . those things you list? They usher forth from every telescreen in the nation, and every EVERY Democrat pays fealty to them. And many Republicans, too. You just said “the rot has seeped into every facet of society” and now you’re backtracking to “a handful of political operatives.”

    Okay.

     

    • #60
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