Trump insiders say indictments offer little legal threat and will make former president STRONGER
Trump insiders said Monday they believed the former president had a strong defense to beat any indictments from a New York grand jury, saying it would be very difficult to prove he paid an adult film star to keep quiet about an affair to increase his chances of being elected president.
After all, said one Trump world figure, Trump’s busy sex life was no secret and had been the subject of New York headlines for decades.
As Trump worked with advisers to figure out the best way to deal with looming impeachments, insiders offered an optimistic view.
They said they believed the legal action would only strengthen his standing with the party grassroots, especially after his likely 2024 Republican rival Ron DeSantis bungled his response.
As if to prove the point, DailyMail.com has heard from multiple Republican supporters who said they had distanced themselves from Trump after the Jan. 6 attack and were now ready to defend him.
Trump insiders on Monday shrugged off the threat of impeachment, saying the lawsuit was weak and that it had made the former president stronger, especially as they said Ron DeSantis missed the Republican primary vote
A grand jury in New York on Monday heard witnesses investigating the 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, 44
“It’s very clear that this is useful,” said a former adviser.
A grand jury in New York on Monday heard witnesses investigating hush money payments made in 2016 to adult film star Stormy Daniels, 44.
Trump himself over the weekend gave the clearest indication yet that he would press charges, claiming he was preparing to be arrested on Saturday.
Since then, supporters have rallied behind him, accusing the Manhattan district attorney’s office of pursuing a purely political cause.
The grand jury has reportedly heard evidence that the Trump Organization misreported the $130,000 payment to Daniels as legal fees, which would normally be considered a felony under New York law.
That could rise to the more serious category of a crime if it can be proven to have concealed a more serious crime, such as wire fraud or a campaign finance crime.
Trump’s lawyers deem the likelihood of that to be slim.
“Obviously nobody wants to be sued, but it’s useful politically and legally, it’s not even that big of a threat because the case is so weak and looks nakedly political,” said one member of Trump’s inner circle.
“To get their business fraud charge, which they make a misdemeanor, they must first prove it was a campaign finance violation because the purpose of the cover-up was to help his campaign.
“The reality is, what the hell are you talking about?
“Does anyone really think Trump has been hiding this from the campaign when his cases have been on the front page of the New York Post for 20 years?”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been charged with a liberal witch hunt
Trump used a social media post on Saturday to call on his supporters to protest as he claimed he would be arrested as early as Tuesday. Rescuers say they don’t know the timing
Trump’s allies also criticized DeSantis for taking two days to respond to the legal twist and then downplaying the impending charges.
“I don’t know what’s involved in paying a porn star hush money to ensure silence about some alleged affair,” Florida’s governor told reporters.
He then criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but then said he had more important things on his mind.
“I have real issues that I’m dealing with here in the state of Florida,” he said.
“We have so many things pending before the legislature. I need to spend my time on things that really matter to people.
“I can’t waste my time on things like that.”
New York Police Department personnel erect barricades around courthouse complex in Lower Manhattan awaiting the expected indictment of former President Donald Trump
The New York Young Republicans Club is holding a protest on Monday night. “Join Peaceful Protest Against Alvin Bragg’s Horrific Attack on President Donald J. Trump…” it says
He said it was a “manufactured circus.”
Trump supporters have publicly and privately criticized his stance, saying he misjudged the vote.
The eldest son of the former president expressed his surprise on Twitter.
So DeSantis thinks Dems using the law as a weapon to indict President Trump is a “manufactured circus” and not a “real problem,” he wrote on Twitter.
‘Sheer weakness.
“Now we know why he was silent all weekend. It is wholly owned by Karl Rove, Paul Ryan and his billionaire donors. 100 percent controlled opposition.’
A former adviser familiar with thinking in Trump’s inner circle said DeSantis had seriously miscalculated.
“We’ve seen Republican after Republican — even those who stopped loving Trump — saying they were ready to take to the streets to defend him,” he said.
“DeSantis could have nailed his colors to the mast on Saturday.
“It took him two days to work out his line, and then he completely blew it.”
Another source said, “Talk about a massive misinterpretation from Republican primary voters who pretty much all think this is the most important issue.”