By Steve Neavling
Former President Trump is expected to be arrested early next week after a Manhattan grand jury indicted him in connection with the hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, making him the first former commander in chief to be charged with a crime.
Trump assailed the case as a “political prosecution” of “a completely innocent person.”
Trump is accused of reimbursing his then-attorney and fixer Michael Cohen $130,000 for a payment he made to Daniels to keep her quiet about an extramarital affair she had with Trump in 2006.
Trump is likely to be arraigned on Tuesday, when the charges will be announced, The Washington Post reports.
Before the arraignment, he is expected to have his finger prints and mug shot taken.
Trump attorneys Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina insisted he did nothing wrong.
“He did not commit any crime,” they said in a statement. “We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in Court.”
Republicans went on the attack Thursday, saying the prosecution was politically driven.
Ronna McDaniels, the chairman of the Republican Party, said the indictment was “a blatant abuse of power from a DA focused on political vengeance instead of keeping people safe.”
Former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired by Trump, tweeted soon after the news, “It’s been a good day.”
