Trump

Once all the witnesses have testified, prosecutors must explain the criminal charges they are seeking to the jury of 23 Manhattan residents before asking them ...

Because of the nature of the potential charges against Mr. Trump, the defendant, in the thick of his campaign. But because of Mr. Law enforcement agencies around New York have also had discussions about how to prepare for the prospect of protests, which Mr. While it is clear that Manhattan prosecutors have been investigating the role Mr. Mr. However, there is some chance that Mr. Bragg will opt not to seek an indictment (or that he will seek one and grand jurors will vote to reject it). Trump would almost certainly be sealed, and the charges would be kept secret from the public after the grand jurors vote. Trump, who lives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, would travel to the city and turn himself in at the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The earliest that could happen is Wednesday afternoon. Bragg, must ask the grand jury that has been hearing evidence about the former president to vote on whether to charge him.

Federal officials, including those at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, are monitoring what they say has been an uptick in violent rhetoric ...

Law enforcement and security experts told CNN they are not seeing large groups animating around Trump’s Truth Social post calling for protest at any level near what they saw at January 6. The memo also cautioned that while Trump’s influence with moderate conservatives has “waned since he left office, some of his most ardent supporters continue to condone political violence and continue to be willing to fight on behalf of the former president.” Jones, president of Advance Democracy, a not-for-profit research organization, told CNN. Officials in Washington are preparing for demonstrations surrounding any indictment of Trump that could erupt into violence, a district official told CNN on Monday. A key difference two years after January 6, sources tell CNN, is the threat of arrest has risen in the minds of many potential protesters. Some posts from influential right-wing figures in recent days have seemingly been more geared at creating chaos than at sparking violence.

The former president could become the first to face criminal charges. Here's what possibly lies ahead.

If Mr Trump were convicted on the felony charge, he would face a maximum sentence of four years in prison, although some legal experts predict a fine is more probable, and that any time behind bars is highly unlikely. Mr Trump would then wait in a holding area or cell until his appearance before a judge. Once inside, however, Mr Trump will be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken like all defendants in criminal cases. The decision on whether to file charges rests with New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Prosecutors could also potentially allege that this breaks election law, because his attempt to hide his payments to Ms Daniels was motivated by not wanting voters to know he had an affair with her. However, when Mr Trump reimbursed Mr Cohen, the record for the payment says it was for legal fees.

NEW YORK — With Donald Trump expected to be indicted in the coming days, his supporters, critics, New York law enforcement officials and a variety of other ...

Whenever he comes to New York, he and his attorney will report to the district attorney’s office where Trump will be arrested and booked, which means he’ll be finger-printed and have his mug shot taken. It is possible that he’ll be handcuffed when he is transported from the district attorney’s office to court — a short walk away within the same building. And then he’ll be released, because the charges he is likely to face are non-bailable. Because the case is white-collar, the district attorney’s office will ask Trump’s attorney when he plans to come to New York to be arraigned. Once the indictment is stamped, the district attorney’s office will notify an attorney for Trump that he has been indicted. In many ways, the mechanics of indicting Trump are likely to be the same as they would be for any other defendant charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The Manhattan district attorney has considerable leeway in deciding whether to bring charges against the former president using what could be an untested ...

“This has a bit of the Al Capone-y feel to it — where they got him on the tax evasion because they couldn’t get him on murder — which is acceptable if and only if you are convinced of the fundamental criminality of Al Capone,” Mr. It is not clear there are any other examples of New Yorkers falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment during a campaign. Trump should go to prison, he worried that “this may be the wrong case to do it.” Cohen had “acted in coordination with and at the direction of” Mr. A jury acquitted him of one charge and hung on others; the case was not retried. If prosecutors single out one person for charges when they choose not to charge other people who committed similar offenses, the result is selective enforcement of the law. Under the rule of law, the government is supposed to treat people the same way regardless of who they are — which means treating like cases alike. Trump have expressed uneasiness, while cautioning that much remains unknown about the facts of the case and any charges that Mr. In the United States, prosecutors have broad latitude to choose among a range of options in handling a criminal case, from selecting more or less harsh charges as part of an indictment, to striking a plea bargain, to bringing no charges at all. One factor behind giving prosecutors such broad latitude is that criminal laws are broadly written and do not always account for every circumstance, so sometimes the interest of justice is served by not bringing charges. WASHINGTON — The Manhattan district attorney’s looming decision about whether to seek an indictment of former President Donald J. In this case, the public understanding of the theory of the case being assembled by the district attorney, Alvin L.

Former President Donald Trump wasn't arrested by early evening Tuesday, but U.S. House Republicans criticized any such move as a prosecutorial abuse.

chooses to go back many, many years ago to try and use something about porn star hush money payments, that’s an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” “The Radical Left is trying to use this latest witch hunt to intimidate you,” an email from the National Republican Congressional Committee said. Trump, who lost reelection in 2020 after one term in office, was the first major candidate to announce he was running for the GOP nomination for president in 2024. House Republicans followed Trump’s lead in criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for what they said was an unfair prosecution of the former president that would undermine confidence in the next presidential election. “But what I can speak to is that if you have a prosecutor who … He used the specter of his indictment to galvanize his supporters, calling for protests. Capitol, the site of the Jan. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We need every single patriot to immediately condemn this witch hunt.” The grounds surrounding the U.S. Echoing Trump’s criticisms, the House members accused Bragg of “searching for a basis — any basis” to prosecute the former president. A bicyclist rode across the East Front plaza, children played nearby and a dog was having a photo shoot.

The looming indictment of Donald Trump on charges he paid hush money to an adult film actor has put Ron DeSantis in an awkward position, forced to choose ...

thinks that indicting President Trump is his top priority, I think it just tells you everything you need to know about the radical left in this country,” Pence He also denied that the state would resist any sort of extradition of Trump from Florida to New York, as some of the former president’s allies have urged, saying he didn’t want to get involved in a “manufactured circus.” Even Pence, who only a week earlier condemned the former president for his role in the Jan. Capitol, offered a full-throated defense of Trump only when asked over the weekend about the charges. DeSantis’ allies have already sought to present the governor as a like-minded alternative to Trump, who shares his vision for the country but wins more elections and produces less drama. “I can’t speak to that.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The conundrum that confronts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis if he runs for president against one-time ally Donald Trump was on full display ...

The governor added, “I’ve got real issues I’ve got to deal with here in the state of Florida.” As a side note: The governor would not be involved with extradition if Trump surrenders, but he could delay the proceedings if it’s contested. That’s a line of criticism in the spirit of what many other Republican supporters of Trump have said. “I have no interest in getting involved in some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA,” he said.

Former President Donald Trump exiting an SUV while two service men hold the door open. Photograph: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images.

[almost unfathomable](https://www.wired.com/story/deepfakes-getting-better-theyre-easy-spot/) that the average person would soon be able to fabricate photorealistic deepfakes of world leaders at home. “So very famous people are rendered extremely well, while less famous people are usually a bit wonky.” For more peace of mind about the algorithm’s ability to re-create your face, it might be worth thinking twice before posting a photo dump of selfies after a fun night out with friends. For example, the police wear badges, hats, and other documents that appear to have lettering, at first glance, in the fake images of officers arresting Trump. Keep in mind that world leaders, celebrities, social media influencers, and anyone with large quantities of photos circulating online may appear more convincing in deepfaked photos than AI-generated images of people with less of a visible internet presence. Even though it’s obvious now, it’s possible that the algorithm might be able to avoid peculiar-looking body parts with more training and Does the rest of the image appear to be an afterthought?

In an interview with Piers Morgan, the Florida governor sought to strike a clear contrast with Donald Trump, calling himself a low-drama “winner.”

Mr. His comments to Mr. When Mr. Trump, slammed Mr. Morgan, Mr. “The approach to Covid was different,” Mr. Morgan asked Mr. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Mr. DeSantis also highlighted Mr. After that event, Mr. DeSantis was and of his choice of interviewer: Mr. Bragg, who is expected to indict Mr.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) criticized former President Donald Trump for not firing federal health official Anthony Fauci and mocked Trump's nicknames for ...

[Trump Ramps Up DeSantis Attacks: Allies Prepare Ethics Complaint And Look For Dirt On Florida Governor](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/15/trump-ramps-up-desantis-attacks-allies-prepare-ethics-complaint-and-look-for-dirt-on-florida-governor/?sh=7b10e7d24a23) (Forbes) [Trump Suggests DeSantis Will Face Allegations From ‘Underage’ Girls ‘Or Possibly A Man!’ After Speaking Out On Manhattan Probe](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/trump-suggests-desantis-will-face-allegations-from-underage-girls-or-possibly-a-man-after-speaking-out-on-manhattan-probe/?sh=3e03978d29d5) (Forbes) [DeSantis Breaks Silence On Possible Trump Charges—And Criticizes N.Y. Earlier this month, DeSantis and Trump appeared at [competing GOP events](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/02/heres-why-trump-was-snubbed-by-a-major-conservative-event-headlined-by-desantis/?sh=3f611cca61e2): the American Conservative Union’s CPAC, where Trump spoke, and the Club for Growth, a fiscally-conservative organization that snubbed Trump and featured DeSantis. super PAC—run by Trump allies— [prepared an ethics complaint](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/15/trump-ramps-up-desantis-attacks-allies-prepare-ethics-complaint-and-look-for-dirt-on-florida-governor/?sh=7b10e7d24a23) with the Florida Commission on Ethics, accusing DeSantis of running a shadow campaign through a “personally lucrative book tour” that comes “at the expense of Florida taxpayers.” Trump has repeatedly attacked DeSantis on Truth Social, including a post earlier this month [attacking DeSantis](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/06/trump-attacks-desantis-on-truth-social-playing-up-narrative-that-gop-wants-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare/?sh=765120b21912) for his prior position on cutting Social Security and Medicare. [Truth Social post](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/trump-suggests-desantis-will-face-allegations-from-underage-girls-or-possibly-a-man-after-speaking-out-on-manhattan-probe/?sh=3e03978d29d5) Monday, arguing he could face allegations from a “woman, even classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!)”—comments some [critics have cast as](https://twitter.com/gtconway3d/status/1637879047220006913?s=20) homophobic. The governor accused Bragg of carrying out a “political agenda,” but mocked the alleged payments, [telling reporters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9n_h6D1l4) in Florida: “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair.” Prosecutor For ‘Political Agenda’](https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/03/20/desantis-breaks-silence-on-possible-trump-charges-and-criticizes-ny-prosecutor-for-political-agenda/?sh=26938e51635c) (Forbes) [Here’s Why Trump Was Snubbed By A Major Conservative Event Headlined By DeSantis](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/02/heres-why-trump-was-snubbed-by-a-major-conservative-event-headlined-by-desantis/?sh=3f611cca61e2) (Forbes) The governor praised Trump in a [campaign ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1YP_zZJFXs) that showed him teaching children to “build the wall,” and reading from Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.” Their relationship soured amid growing speculation DeSantis is planning a 2024 presidential run, which would put him head-to-head with Trump in the GOP primaries. DeSantis hasn’t announced a 2024 run, but it’s widely believed he will launch a campaign in the coming months, after breaking fundraising records in his gubernatorial run last year and visiting Iowa this month. Florida has recorded 403 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents since the start of the pandemic, above the nationwide rate of 337, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Trump has also used Truth Social in recent months to post a series of [links to polls](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/02/27/trump-blasts-fox-news-again-for-promoting-desantis-so-hard-and-so-much/?sh=6b20bd4a5608) indicating Republican voters favor Trump in a hypothetical 2024 match-up ( [other](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/02/13/desantis-is-more-popular-than-trump-among-these-key-groups-ahead-of-2024-poll-finds/?sh=13eabce144d7) [polls](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/13/desantis-surges-over-trump-among-gop-by-double-digit-margins-poll-finds/?sh=436ebfd4303b) have indicated otherwise).

To try to convict the former president of a felony, prosecutors might attempt to connect state election law to a federal election.

That crime could be a violation of election law, under the theory that the payout served as a donation to Mr. Bragg’s office has ways to extend that statute of limitations to cover the events stemming from the 2016 payment. They ultimately concluded that it was too risky to use a federal election law violation as the second crime. But there are exceptions to federal pre-emption contained in regulations from the Federal Election Commission, known as the F.E.C. One of the lawyers recently argued in television interviews that Mr. If his office uses a federal election violation as the second crime, Mr. Trump’s lawyers have said that the theory that the money amounted to a campaign donation is fatally flawed. Bragg’s office is likely to build the case around that charge, according to people with knowledge of the matter and outside legal experts. Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, handled reimbursing Mr. The case could hinge on the way Mr. Trump directed him to pay off the porn star, Stormy Daniels, and that the former president reimbursed Mr. Bringing an untested case against anyone, let alone a former president of the United States, carries the risk that a court could throw out or narrow the case.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is no longer veiling his presidential ambitions or his criticism of former President Trump, taking a new gloves-off approach in a ...

"Truth is essential," DeSantis responded when asked if there’s been a departure from the truth being a key component of leadership. - "I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. Trump's escalating attacks on his former ally have become more personal in recent weeks — and now DeSantis is punching back. - "I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this state to the next level." - "At the end of the day as a leader, you really want to look to people like our Founding Fathers," DeSantis said when Morgan asked if personal conduct in a leader matters. [igniting outrage in Trumpworld](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/donald-trump-ron-desantis-indictment-cold-war-turns-hot-rcna75804) with a shot at Trump over the former president's alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, DeSantis told Morgan that the "underlying conduct" in the Manhattan DA's investigation is "outside my wheelhouse."

In a TV interview, the Florida Republican takes shots at his possible rival's leadership style.

"That is purported to be it, and the reality is that's just outside my wheelhouse. Donald Trump Jr, the former president's eldest son, accused Mr DeSantis of "pathetically" attacking Mr Trump "on orders" from the Republican "establishment". On the topic of a former Trump fixer's hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, Mr DeSantis said there had been "a lot of speculation about what the underlying conduct is".

Behind the gilded doors of Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump has toyed with the idea of creating a media spectacle around his potential indictment, ...

In a separate development in a distinct probe, the Justice Department has [convinced a federal judge](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/21/politics/corcoran-trump-testimony/index.html) that Trump used one of his defense attorneys in furtherance of a crime or fraud related to the existence of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, sources familiar with the matter told CNN Tuesday evening. Over the weekend, Trump on his social media page called for protests of what he said was his impending arrest. Ethics experts said the impact that the disclosure will have on the case will depend on the circumstances and the substance of the communications. And Howell ruled that prosecutors met the burden to overcome Trump’s right to shield discussions with his lawyers normally protected under attorney-client privilege. The exchanges – said to date back to 2018, when Daniels was seeking representation – raise the possibility that the Trump attorney, Joe Tacopina, could be sidelined from Trump’s defense. Already a 2024 candidate for the White House, Trump has both celebrated how an indictment would help him politically and complained about how “unfair” it would be.

Donald Trump stands on a stage at night at an outdoor rally last year, in. The case in Manhattan is one of four criminal investigations facing former President ...

Mr. By Saturday afternoon, Mr. But Mr. By June, Mr. Seeing Mr. These voters have turned on Mr. The experience has intensified Mr. When Mr. If Mr. And then years later in 2021, Mr. That notion, according to legal experts, is highly unlikely, but Mr. Another person who has spoken with Mr.

The Justice Department has convinced a federal judge that former President Donald Trump used one of his defense attorneys in furtherance of a crime or fraud ...

There are signs that case is nearing an end and Trump and his advisers are [awaiting a potential indictment](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/21/politics/trump-awaits-potential-indictment/index.html). But Corcoran also was ordered to hand over a number of documents, including handwritten notes and notes transcribed of a verbal conversation. The court order doesn’t explain any further what’s happened with documents. It also underscores how critical the testimony of Trump’s defense lawyers would be in the federal grand jury investigation. On Tuesday, Trump’s team sought emergency intervention from the appeals court. And Howell ruled that prosecutors met the burden to overcome Trump’s right to shield discussions with his lawyers normally protected under attorney-client privilege.

Former President Trump is taking advantage of his possible indictment coming this week by sending out numerous fundraising emails asking his supporters to ...

[Alvin Bragg](https://thehill.com/people/alvin-bragg/) [Donald Trump](https://thehill.com/tag/donald-trump/) [Stormy Daniels](https://thehill.com/people/stormy-daniels/) [Trump 2024 campaign](https://thehill.com/tag/trump-2024-campaign/) [Trump indictment](https://thehill.com/tag/trump-indictment/) Many [Republicans](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3909320-looming-trump-arrest-puts-gop-lawmakers-in-uncomfortable-spot/) have flocked to Trump’s defense, decrying that the probe into the hush-money payment is politically motivated. This potential charge would likely be a misdemeanor, as it could prove difficult to upgrade it to a felony charge. “If media leaks are correct, this could be the last time I write to you before a possible indictment comes down. The email added that Trump knows “true vindication” will come on Election Day in 2024, when he says he will take back the White House. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has signaled that he is prepared to bring charges against the former president in connection to a hush-money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from exposing an alleged affair during the 2016 election.

Senate Democrats on Tuesday expressed alarm at former President Trump's call for protests in response to a potential indictment this week by the Manhattan ...

“The minute they get violent, they should go to jail.” “Anytime anyone wants to assemble peacefully, that’s fine,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a longtime adversary of Trump, told reporters that the situation will “further reveal” the former president as a “crook.” But you should not allow the court system to be perceived as basically a political pawn as you will,” Sen. “I think it’s ridiculous,” said Sen. The former president will have due process.” “Certainly I worry about President Trump doing things that are irresponsible, but it wouldn’t be the first time.” Everyone’s entitled to due process. “There’s many reasons not to support Donald Trump. There’s many reasons why Donald Trump should not be president again in the United States. “I worry about it in the context of Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

He responded to the former president's wave of social media attacks during an interview with Piers Morgan.

“I think the person is more about how you handle your public duties and the kind of character you bring to that endeavor.” “He’s exposing himself as 100% Controlled Opposition!” [Morgan was quick to respond](https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1638300428931670022): “He’s been attacking DeSantis for months,” he wrote. I can’t speak to that,” DeSantis said, adding that he has no interest in getting involved in the investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. But during a press conference Monday, DeSantis took an indirect shot at Trump while addressing the investigation into Trump over hush money that Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016. Though DeSantis has yet to say whether or not he intends to launch a campaign in 2024, he is already viewed as a front-runner in a GOP primary that so far includes Trump, former South Carolina Gov. DeSantis addressed the new nickname during the interview.

Ex-president attempts to capitalize on anticipated charges over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

The Books a Million website lists several books authored by Trump as [out of stock](https://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=trump&filter=authors%3ATrump%2C+Donald+J.&sort=date). Donald Trump Jr, Trump’s son, is [the co-founder](https://45books.com/pages/about-us) of Winning Team Publishing, which, like Books a Million, is offering Trump’s upcoming book, Letters To Trump, for sale on its website. It also spent thousands of dollars advertising on Facebook and Newsmax, the rightwing news channel which champions Trump on a near-daily basis, while book purchases accounted for a surprising amount of expenditure. The committee had just $3.8m cash on hand at the end of 2022, according to its [two](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202210159536888052) [purchases](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202210159536888051), on books from the Books a Million retailer alone. Between 15 November 2022, when Trump announced his run for president, and 31 December 2022 Trump’s campaign said he had raised $9.5m, or $201,600 a day. “These are truly dark times …” began an email sent by Trump on Monday. Each ends with a plea for donations, the language used changing slightly each time. Trump’s pleas for money could make sense given his relatively poor fundraising so far. [$47,689.40 worth of books](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202207159521741960) from Winning Team Publishing in May 2022. [$1,696 payment](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202207159521741960) to Trump Hotel Collection. [around the Manhattan criminal courthouse](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/21/new-york-prepares-for-possible-unrest-if-donald-trump-is-indicted) in New York City, an email from Trump’s re-election campaign shared a photo of the scene in another fundraising email, asking supporters to: “Please make a contribution to stand with President Trump at this critical moment.”

NEW YORK – Demonstrators who want a Donald Trump indictment far outnumbered MAGA supporters Tuesday morning outside the Manhattan Criminal Court, ...

[the ‘QAnon Shaman’](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/17/politics/jacob-chansley-qanon-shaman-january-6-sentencing/index.html) who was riding a bicycle. “While you will see an increased uniformed presence throughout the five boroughs, there are currently no credible threats to New York City. Jurors heard what was believed to be [the final witness](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/20/former-attorney-to-michael-cohen-tries-to-discredit-him-in-grand-jury-testimony-00087982) Monday before they vote on an indictment. but the threats were deemed illegitimate at the moment. We don’t escalate, we deescalate,” said Jamie Bauer, 64, who lives in Manhattan’s West Village.” Bauer said she is part of a small group of anti-Trump New Yorkers called Rise and Resist. “I wish more people had shown up,” said Trump supporter Philippe Lejeune.

Former President Donald Trump has told advisors he wants his potentially imminent arrest to be a public “spectacle” including handcuffs and a “perp walk” to ...

It’ll then probably take a while before his case goes to trial, as legal experts cited by [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-could-be-charged-any-day-what-happens-next-2023-03-19/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Daily-Docket&utm_term=032023) noted Manhattan criminal cases typically take more than a year to go to trial—potentially setting Trump up to be convicted during the 2024 election. Trump allegedly reimbursed his ex-attorney Michael Cohen for the $130,000 in payments to Daniels, but labeled the payments as legal fees, and it’s expected prosecutors will charge Trump with falsifying business records as a result. In New York, that can be a felony if it’s used to cover up another crime—as prosecutors are expected to argue was the case here—and legal experts cited by [Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-risks-zero-to-4-years-jail-ny-hush-money-2023-1?r=US&IR=T) speculate Trump could face a prison sentence of up to four years if he’s convicted. The grand jury that will vote on his indictment will meet on Wednesday and more information about Trump’s indictment could come out after they meet, though it’s still unclear if they could vote then on whether he should be indicted. [Trump is arrested](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/?sh=f5dad6175d51), he’s expected to appear in person in Manhattan, where he would be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken before being arraigned and pleading not guilty to the charges against him. If the jury does vote on Trump’s indictment, his arrest would not come immediately after, as prosecutors and Trump’s legal team would likely then have to arrange the logistics of his surrender. [Trump wants to be handcuffed for court appearance in Stormy Daniels case, sources say](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/22/trump-wants-to-be-handcuffed-for-court-appearance-in-stormy-daniels-case-sources-say) (The Guardian) [Trump at Mar-a-Lago: Magical Thinking and a Perp-Walk Fixation](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/us/politics/trump-pending-indictment.html) (New York Times) [Here’s What Will Happen If Trump Is Arrested (Yes, He’ll Probably Get A Mugshot)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/?sh=f5dad6175d51) (Forbes) [“hush money” payments](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/nyregion/trump-stormy-daniels-felony-charges.html) made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election to cover up an alleged affair. [arrested Tuesday](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/21/will-trump-be-arrested-tuesday-heres-what-we-know-but-its-unlikely/?sh=561db8684909)—which his attorneys later clarified was speculation—that did not come to pass. “He wants to be defiant — to show the world that if they can try to do this to him, they can do it to anyone,” a source who spoke to Trump told the Times. Trump’s desire for his arrest to be a “spectacle” appears to be because he wants to fire up his base and “project defiance,” the Guardian notes, reporting he’s “deeply anxious” that more muted proceedings would “make him look weak or like a loser.” Trump has told associates that he “wants to be handcuffed” when he’s arraigned in court after being indicted, the Guardian reports based on anonymous sources, noting the ex-president’s “increasing insistence that he wants to be handcuffed behind his back for a perp walk.”

And Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman is exploring ways to edge Trump out of the GOP presidential primary.

[“Oklahoma court OK’s abortion to preserve mother’s life,”](https://apnews.com/article/abortion-oklahoma-ban-overturns-supreme-court-7fd43143fa0580460e09a9796ec30a82) by AP’s Ken Miller in Oklahoma City … [“Fed Facing A Blurrier Outlook As It Meets To Weigh Rate Hike,”](https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-banks-interest-rates-jobs-91a9185ebce972bbf5ab1f46654f1a53?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_03) By AP’s Christopher Rugaber Thomas Andrews (D-Maine) (7-0) … Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) (5-0) … [“McCarthy’s newest challenge: Keeping the House GOP peace on war powers,”](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/22/aumf-mccarthy-gop-war-00088145) by Jordain Carney and Sarah Ferris in Orlando, Fla.: “[L]anding an agreement without exposing awkward internal divides may prove near-impossible. [“TikTok Reassures Advertisers Over Ban Threat as Some Set Backup Plans,”](https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-reassures-advertisers-over-ban-threat-as-some-set-backup-plans-8c67e7db) by WSJ’s Patience Haggin and Suzanne Vranica One neighbor described the area to our Katy O’Donnell as “filled with Pride flags and Kindness posters” and noted that Vance was recently welcomed to the neighborhood with a “ [“Trump at Mar-a-Lago: Magical Thinking and a Perp-Walk Fixation,”](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/us/politics/trump-pending-indictment.html) by NYT’s Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman: “Behind closed doors at Mar-a-Lago, the former president has told friends and associates that he welcomes the idea of being paraded by the authorities before a throng of reporters and news cameras. [“National Republicans are looking for Senate candidates who are filthy rich,”](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/22/national-republicans-senate-candidates-rich-00088199) by Ally Mutnick: “So far, at least 10 candidates with sizable net worth are seriously considering self-funded Senate campaigns in more than a half-dozen swing states — many of them at the behest of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. [MICHAEL] CHERTOFF’s acknowledgement of the work came in response to an inquiry from lawmakers who wanted more details on the role he and his firm played investigating the unprecedented leak of a draft of the pivotal Dobbs abortion ruling to POLITICO last year.” [“Shou Zi Chew’s ‘death wish’ mission: Defend TikTok on Capitol Hill,”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/21/tiktok-ceo-profile-congress/) by WaPo’s Drew Harwell: “As TikTok’s chief executive, [SHOU ZI CHEW]’s become the face of what some Washington lawmakers have claimed, without evidence, is a shadowy Chinese spying and propaganda machine. The April politicking follows multiple trips Scott has already made to Iowa, and one person close to the senator told Natalie that the senator expects to have “clarity” on his plans “sooner rather than later.”

ABC News' Aaron Katersky reports on signs that the Manhattan district attorney is wrapping up an investigation into former President Donald Trump's involvement ...

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is mulling whether to charge Trump with falsifying business records, after the Trump Organization allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the payment then logged the reimbursement as a legal expense, sources have told ABC News. White collar criminal defendants in New York are typically allowed to negotiate a surrender. The Constitution provides the right to peaceably assemble. "What we see before us is a political game being played by a local. A grand jury will reconvene on Wednesday to continue to weigh charges against former President Donald Trump in connection with the Manhattan district attorney's probe into the 2016 hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. "Every American has the right to let their voice be heard.

It took an accountant to nail Al Capone, as they say. But Donald Trump is not a 1920s Chicago mafia boss. He is a former and possibly future US president ...

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. Compare Standard and Premium Digital For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital,

A New York grand jury was expected on Wednesday to resume its closed-door investigation of whether Donald Trump made illegal hush-money payments to a porn ...

The court system should not be perceived to be involved in the political process," Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, told reporters. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a witness, lawyer Robert Costello, who said that Cohen acted on his own. One such email, on Tuesday, was titled, “Barricades arrive at Manhattan Criminal Court” and included a picture that appeared to show a metal barrier being unloaded from an NYPD truck. If charges were filed, Trump would have to travel to New York from his Florida home for a mug shot and fingerprinting. [investigating](/legal/trump-hush-money-charges-would-bring-zombie-case-back-life-2023-03-22/) $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Tuesday, the day Trump had predicted he would be arrested, came and went without action.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took direct shots at the competence and character of Donald Trump — his likely rival for the '24 GOP nomination — after months of ...

[DeSantis told Morgan](https://nypost.com/2023/03/21/i-can-win-presidency-desantis-tells-piers-morgan-how-he-can-beat-biden/): "If I were to run ... [The Courage to Be Free](https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/desantisbook)." Times columnist Carlos Lozada [writes](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/opinion/ron-desantis-donald-trump-courage-free.html) that DeSantis' case against Trump is scattered throughout the pages: "You just need to squint through a magnifying glass to find it." You can’t win with just Republicans." "I had no desire to be flattered." "I don't really know what it means ... [honors Yale grad](https://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/florida-history/florida-governors/ronald-dion-desantis/)told Piers Morgan. [DeSantis opens Pandora's box](https://www.axios.com/2023/03/22/desantis-piers-morgan-interview-trump) [I]t's not saying that you don't ever make a mistake in your personal life. [still calling him](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/110058073597402708) "Ron DeSanctimonious." Post](https://nypost.com/2023/03/21/ron-desantis-opens-fire-on-trumps-character-chaotic-style/)). [many top Republicans](https://www.axios.com/2023/03/18/mccarthy-trump-manhattan-da-probe) — even some [possible '24 rivals](https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-republican-desantis-2024-ecba40f2ec9f56732ff0476f3842e23a) — are rallying to Trump ahead of his expected indictment.

Former President Donald Trump's claim that he would be arrested Tuesday had not materialized by late Tuesday night.

chooses to go back many, many years ago to try and use something about porn star hush money payments, that’s an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” “The Radical Left is trying to use this latest witch hunt to intimidate you,” an email from the National Republican Congressional Committee said. Trump, who lost reelection in 2020 after one term in office, was the first major candidate to announce he was running for the GOP nomination for president in 2024. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. House Republicans followed Trump’s lead in criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for what they said was an unfair prosecution of the former president that would undermine confidence in the next presidential election. He used the specter of his indictment to galvanize his supporters, calling for protests. Capitol, the site of the Jan. “But what I can speak to is that if you have a prosecutor who … We need every single patriot to immediately condemn this witch hunt.” The grounds surrounding the U.S. A bicyclist rode across the East Front plaza, children played nearby and a dog was having a photo shoot. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Interesting timing — The potential indictment of former President Donald Trump is poised to be the biggest political story of the moment — if not the year or ...

Department of Housing and Urban Development and former legislator ... [After DeSantis tussle, Disney World will host a major summit on gay rights](https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article273376315.html?ac_cid=DM777497&ac_bid=-1845827855),” by McClatchy D.C.’s Michael Wilner and Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas: “The Walt Disney Company will host a major conference promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in the workplace in Central Florida this September, gathering executives and professionals from the world’s largest companies in a defiant display of the limits of Florida Gov. — WHERE’S RON? Comas: “A state court of appeal Tuesday upheld a circuit judge’s ruling that Seminole’s voter-approved charter amendment that established the county’s rural boundary is constitutional, likely marking the end of developer Chris Dorworth’s legal efforts against Seminole to build his controversial River Cross mega-development.” — Nothing official for Gov. Joe Harding, the Republican lawmaker who last year sponsored the Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed “Don’t say Gay bill,” pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection to fraudulently obtaining $150,000 in federal Covid-19 relief loans. [How Rick Scott became the senator Washington loves to hate](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-rick-scott-became-the-senator-washington-loves-to-hate),” by the Daily Beast’s Sam Brodey: “To hear him tell it though, taking all that incoming—praise from the right, gloating from Democrats, seething from the GOP establishment—is the cost of sticking to his principles. A proposed State Board of Education rule, scheduled for a vote next month, says teachers in grades 4 to 12 ‘shall not intentionally provide classroom instruction’ on either topic, expanding the prohibition in last year’s law that critics dubbed ‘don’t say gay.’” “Just as radical Dems are indicting Trump & destroying the fabric of our nation with their Police State tactics, DeSantis pathetically runs to the liberal media on orders from his RINO establishment owners to attack my father,” Donald Trump Jr. Assertions — Morgan also contends that DeSantis took more pointed jabs at Trump than before in his interview, including hitting him over his management style as well as Covid-19 and saying he would have fired Anthony Fauci. Highlights — Now much of what DeSantis told Morgan in what’s been released so far echoes what the Republican governor has said elsewhere and does not constitute a huge revelation. Interesting timing — The potential indictment of former President Donald Trump is poised to be the biggest political story of the moment — if not the year or more.

Former President Donald Trump expects to be arrested over a hush money payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels. Follow live updates on the grand jury probe of ...

Trump may be able to avoid the spectacle: U.S. After getting booked, Trump would be transported to a courtroom for his arraignment. Trump's lawyers would be notified of the indictment and would negotiate a surrender date for their client. But no one is sure whether Trump's remarks are "bravado or genuine resignation," the newspaper reported. Trump denies the tryst. The company recorded the $130,000 payment as a legal expense. This is CNBC's live blog tracking developments Wednesday in the New York grand jury investigation of former U.S. It's unclear if Trump will be seen in handcuffs or required to do a "perp walk" — having to walk down a courthouse hallway in handcuffs in front of the press — on the way to his arraignment. See below for the latest updates. Trump said he welcomes the idea of having to do a "perp walk" — walking past a crowd of reporters, photographers and other onlookers on his way into a courtroom — following his arrest on possible criminal charges, The New York Times The Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for the payment, recording it as a legal expense. Prosecutors are considering whether to charge Trump in relation to misstating the purpose of the payment in business records, which could be a felony if it was done to cover up another crime.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took his most wide-ranging shots at former President Trump in an interview this week with Fox News's Pier Morgan, ...

“I want other Republicans to do well,” DeSantis said. “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair. “I want them to eclipse me. DeSantis said Trump “changed his tune” when he won reelection overwhelmingly last year. So, the way we run the government, I think, is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board.” Tim Scott, have largely dodged questions about what separates them from Trump, DeSantis, who is seen as the main rival to the former president for the GOP nomination, pointed to Trump’s leadership style as a difference between the two. “It’s not accomplishing anything for the people I represent. “It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media,” DeSantis said. Until now, DeSantis has remained coy on Trump as he mulls an expected entry into the 2024 presidential race. “I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda,” he said. Nikki Haley and current Sen. “I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one,” DeSantis said in the interview with Morgan, which was detailed in the

The extraordinary legal peril surrounding Donald Trump is reaching a fever pitch at the same time the former president is forging ahead in a 2024 Republican ...

Amid the uncertainty over how the yearslong investigation will wrap, several advisers to the former president expressed frustration at the lack of information around a potential indictment and the logistical complications that would come with an appearance in New York, where Trump would be arraigned. Trump’s attorneys this week asked a judge to toss the final report and evidence from a special grand jury in Fulton County. Meanwhile, Trump is the focus of a separate investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith over the handling of classified documents.

A Manhattan grand jury could decide whether to indict Donald J. Trump as early as Wednesday, potentially touching off a sequence of events that could ...

Because of the nature of the potential charges against Mr. Trump, the defendant, in the thick of his campaign. But because of Mr. While it is clear that Manhattan prosecutors have been investigating the role Mr. Law enforcement agencies around New York have also had discussions about how to prepare for the prospect of protests, which Mr. Mr. Bragg will opt not to seek an indictment (or that he will seek one and grand jurors will vote to reject it). However, there is some chance that Mr. Trump would almost certainly be sealed, and the charges would be kept secret from the public after the grand jurors vote. Trump, who lives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, would travel to the city and turn himself in at the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The earliest that could happen is Wednesday afternoon. Bragg, must ask the grand jury that has been hearing evidence about the former president to vote on whether to charge him.

While prosecutors have signaled that an indictment of the former president is likely, its specific timing remains unclear, and grand juries conduct their ...

With the grand jury not meeting on Wednesday, the earliest that is likely to happen is Thursday afternoon. Bragg’s prosecutors must ask the grand jury to vote whether to charge him. A majority of the 23 jurors must agree to do so. Cohen, in the run-up to the 2016 election. Trump for the hush-money payment that was made by his former fixer, Michael D. The Manhattan grand jury that has been hearing evidence about Donald J.

Manhattan grand jury on standby about meeting on Thursday as adjournment sparks flurry of speculation among Trump allies.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges, some connected to the payments. The grand jury, which meets in the afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, is not required to meet three times every week. On Monday, prosecutors allowed a Trump-aligned lawyer, Robert Costello, to testify before the grand jury. In recent days, Trump has been resigned to the fact that he will face criminal charges in the hush-money case, and has repeatedly insisted to advisers that he wants to be handcuffed when he makes an appearance in court, The case centers on the $130,000 Trump paid Daniels through Cohen in the final days of the 2016 election. [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump) over his role in the payment of hush money to the adult film star Stormy Daniels will not meet on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter, and is on standby about meeting on Thursday.

NEW YORK — The Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence in the criminal investigation of Donald Trump's alleged role in a scheme to pay hush money to a porn ...

The grand jury typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, one of the people familiar with the matter said, and it heard from witnesses earlier this week. “The grand jury has been told to stay home today. NEW YORK — The Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence in the criminal investigation of Donald Trump’s alleged role in a scheme to pay hush money to a porn star won’t meet Wednesday as regularly scheduled, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Senior Republicans are eager to find a candidate who can bring back the independent and moderate Republican voters they lost in 2020 and 2022.

Scott Walker’s presidential campaign, may be inclined to pursue a role in the administration, according to a Wisconsin GOP lawmaker and another Republican who was granted anonymity to speak openly about their private conversations with Gallagher. [rushed to defend the former president](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/20/house-republicans-florida-retreat-trump-00087858) through letters and on Twitter. Republicans in Wisconsin expect the former president to campaign there around the time of the state GOP convention in June, if not earlier. Should a Republican other than Trump win the White House in 2024, Gallagher, a one-time foreign policy aide to former Wisconsin Gov. Wisconsin Republicans close to the congressman describe him as “whip smart,” but also “incredibly risk averse” and “extremely deliberative,” sometimes to a point where he’s slow to make decisions. And an impending indictment in a hush-money case has compelled many in the party to rally around the former president once more. In Wisconsin, where Ted Cruz beat Trump in the 2016 GOP primary, DeSantis led Trump in a hypothetical 2024 matchup with Biden, according to a The person noted that the congressman didn’t vote to impeach Trump or approve an independent commission to investigate the attack on the U.S. One Wisconsin Republican close to Gallagher, who was granted anonymity to talk about their private conversations with him, brushed off the notion that his public break with Trump would hurt him significantly in a future GOP primary. His nomination would be a strong indication the party is shifting gears and learning the lessons from 2022. The 39-year-old former Marine is widely viewed as a rising star in the GOP thanks to his vocal stance on China policy and prolific fundraising. A public break with former President Donald Trump has been career suicide for many an ambitious GOP lawmaker in recent years.

When it comes to Trump and justice, it's best to not get your hopes up – and he's a master at spinning a persecution narrative, says Guardian columnist Emma ...

As the story unfolds, I’m getting in early and trying to come to terms with how it may all play out: the arrest happens, Trump is arraigned and tried, there’s no conviction, and he leverages the attention to stir up his base so that we don’t see the back of him for years. In terms of the former, the mere fact of seeing his face on the news this week is a return to a place many of us don’t want to go. Accountability of any kind, no matter how small, would of course be satisfying in a way, but on the other hand, what mightn’t we give for the bliss of never hearing about this man ever again? But the [accusations against Trump](https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-potential-indictment-criminal-charges.html), which relate to his alleged payment of hush money to Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, appeared to be on the verge of triggering an arrest order from the Manhattan district attorney’s office. But it is the return of Stormy Daniels, the porn star elevated to Greek goddess of vengeance, that may deliver to the world an image many have longed to see: [Trump in cuffs](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/22/trump-wants-to-be-handcuffed-for-court-appearance-in-stormy-daniels-case-sources-say). [were ordered](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/trump-indictment-watch-all-nypd-officers-ordered-to-patrol-in-uniform-ready-for-immediate-mobilization/4167095/) to be in uniform this week and on standby for immediate deployment.

Manhattan prosecutors postponed a scheduled grand jury session on Wednesday (New York time) in the investigation into Donald Trump over hush money payments ...

The people who confirmed that the grand jury would not meet as scheduled weren't authorised to discuss details on the record and spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press. When the grand jury next meets, it may hear from yet another witness, according to a person familiar with proceedings that appear to be nearing a decisive vote on whether or not to indict Trump. The grand jurors were told to be on standby for Thursday (local time), another day when the New York panel has been meeting, three of the people said.

People close to former president said to be unsure whether he is serious about wanting to do a perp walk.

But Trump has rejected that approach and told various allies over the weekend that he didn’t care if someone shot him – he would become “a martyr”. Trump later reimbursed Cohen with $35,000 checks using his personal funds, which were recorded as legal expenses to Cohen. Trump’s increasing insistence that he wants to be handcuffed behind his back for a perp walk appears to come from various motivations, including that he wants to project defiance in the face of what he sees as an unfair prosecution and that it would galvanize his base for his 2024 presidential campaign.

Former President Donald Trump's defense attorney Evan Corcoran is scheduled to testify Friday before the grand jury investigating classified documents found ...

The Justice Department has successfully argued in court that prosecutors have enough evidence that Trump’s interactions with the lawyer were part of a possible crime that they can pierce the confidentiality of the conversations between the two. The announcement from a panel of three judges in the appeals court – less than a day after Trump sought to put Corcoran’s testimony on hold – adds momentum to the special counsel investigation as it seeks to secure evidence that could make or break a federal criminal case against Trump. In response to the decision, a Trump spokesperson said, in part, that “there is no factual or legal basis or substance to any case against President Trump” and that “prosecutors only attack lawyers when they have no case whatsoever.”

At issue is whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence of a crime to force a lawyer for Donald J. Trump to testify to a grand jury and turn over documents ...

One of the men was Waltine Nauta, a White House aide who went to work for Mr. Among the subjects that Mr. The search yielded three classified documents in desks inside Mr. [cited the crime-fraud exception](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/us/politics/trump-lawyer-classified-documents-investigation.html) when they asked Judge Howell last month to force Mr. The litigation surrounding Mr. Corcoran that he had to give the government a trove of documents connected to the legal work he did for Mr. [appointed Jack Smith](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/us/politics/trump-special-counsel-garland.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-trump-raid&variant=show®ion=MAIN_CONTENT_1&block=storyline_top_links_recirc), a longtime prosecutor, to take over the inquiry. That suggests that Mr. Trump in the documents investigation, to answer questions before a grand jury. Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump’s handling of classified documents has prompted a pitched behind-the-scenes legal battle, with a federal appeals court poised to weigh whether prosecutors have provided sufficient evidence of a crime to force one of Mr. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a temporary stay of a decision by a lower court last week that allowed prosecutors to pierce assertions of attorney-client privilege and compel M.

Major blow to ex-president as Evan Corcoran loses legal bid to avoid giving notes and audio transcripts to investigators.

But before he complied with her order, the Trump legal team appealed the ruling, and the appeals court granted a temporary stay. But, according to court filings, the justice department developed evidence that more documents that were marked as classified remained at the resort, along with “evidence of obstruction”. ABC News reported Howell also found evidence that Trump intentionally misled or lied to his lawyers. That was after documents he returned earlier to the National Archives included 200 that were classified. [motion to compel testimony from Corcoran](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/09/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-papers-grand-jury) on a range of subjects he discussed with Trump with respect to the obstruction element of the investigation. [Mar-a-Lago](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/mar-a-lago) and produced about 30 documents with classified markings to the justice department, and had another Trump lawyer, Christina Bobb, sign a certification that attested to compliance with the subpoena “based on the information provided to me”.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has stylized himself as a political brawler willing to take on all comers, from Disney and the corporate media to high school ...

To many Republican primary voters, Trump and DeSantis are viewed as politically aligned, leaving voters with a choice centered on electability and less on policy differences. In a recent CNN poll of potential GOP voters, 40% say they would most likely back Trump and 36% would vote for DeSantis. Once an outspoken proponent of arming Ukraine as a member of Congress, DeSantis recently characterized Russia’s aggression in Eastern Europe as a “territorial dispute,” aligning himself with Trump. His moves against so-called “wokeness” in society are the ripples from Trump’s 2016 gripes against political correctness. DeSantis suggested that is unlikely to change even as he and Trump appear headed for a collision course. “It gets to the point where you’re a candidate by default and you have to engage,” one DeSantis adviser told CNN. He clearly made the calculus it was time to push back.” Trump, meanwhile, has for weeks escalated attacks on DeSantis, characterizing the governor and former ally as ungrateful, disloyal and a mediocre political talent boosted by Florida’s sunshine. He went on to tout the no-nonsense management of his administration, pandemic response and 19-point victory last fall – encouraging a contrast with Trump’s chaotic four years in office that culminated with a loss to Joe Biden. Trump adviser and spokesman Jason Miller tweeted that DeSantis “has finally shown his true colors. [That changed this week](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/20/politics/desantis-trump-indictment/index.html) when DeSantis for the first time leaned into the burgeoning rivalry in earnest. DeSantis until now has mostly brushed off questions about his 2024 aspirations even as he makes moves toward a likely campaign for president.

Manhattan prosecutors postponed without any explanation a scheduled grand jury session on Wednesday in the investigation into Donald Trump over hush money ...

It was not immediately clear why the proceedings were postponed, but the grand jurors were told to be on standby for Thursday, another day when the New York panel has been meeting in recent weeks. Trump has denied the claim, insisted he did nothing wrong and assailed the investigation, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, as politically motivated. When the grand jurors next meet, they may hear from yet another witness, according to a person familiar with proceedings that appear to be nearing a decisive vote on whether or not to indict Trump.

The political and racial maneuvering here is obvious and ridiculous, but that doesn't make it less dangerous.

Trump is inflating the legal discretionary power of this handful of people, then extrapolating it to all Black Americans, effectively saying: “Watch out for those Blacks; they’re coming to get you.” Still, one of the impacts of this rhetoric of anti-white racism is that it invites everyday Americans to see themselves as victims of a Black takeover. “This is a continuation of the greatest witch hunt in history, and it should not be allowed to continue.” “There is nothing that can be done to satisfy the racist attorney general of New York state, failed gubernatorial candidate Letitia James, or the New York state courts which are biased, unyielding and totally unfair,” Trump said in a statement. They simply do not possess the political, social or material power to enact the violence that racism seeks to do to those who suffer under it. to bring charges against me for the now ancient ‘no affair’ story of Stormy ‘Horseface’ Danials [sic], where there is no crime and charges have NEVER been brought on such a case before.”

Donald Trump's prediction that he will be arrested this week has yet to come true - but as the waiting game for criminal charges goes on, ...

His pugnacious online persona and his lack of personal discipline were targeted by Mr DeSantis in his recent swipes for a reason. It is a daunting task, and hunkered down in his Mar-a-Lago home, Mr Trump seems resigned to becoming the first US president to be indicted for a crime. Further attacks, with a metaphorical wrestling match in the mud, may only strengthen his position. He is focused on appearing defiant in any possible public appearances and ready to portray the criminal case as a de facto attack on his supporters. It's not a coincidence that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, potentially his most formidable 2024 nomination opponent, directly criticised Mr Trump for the first time this week. The former president will have at least two prime opportunities to mount his counterattack in the days ahead.