Former President Trump (AP) in Tulsa, Oklahoma
[Washington = Michio Yoshida]Multiple US media reported on the 20th that the prosecutor’s office in the eastern state of New York will report to Trump within the week over the issue of former President Trump’s campaign paying hush money to a woman before the 2016 presidential election. He said he plans to indict Mr. If he is indicted, he will be the first president ever. It is likely to affect the next presidential election in 2024, when he has announced his candidacy.
Trump’s former legal counsel paid $130,000 (approximately 17 million yen) in hush money to a pornographic actress who had alleged an affair with Trump before the 2016 presidential election, and was charged with fraudulent accounting18. He was sentenced to prison in 2012 for violating campaign finance laws. Prosecutors are investigating Trump’s involvement, and the US political site Politico said he would be indicted as early as Thursday.
In a statement Tuesday, Trump attacked state prosecutors, calling them “tyrants who have politicized the judicial system.” Republican lawmakers have also defended Trump. However, Governor DeSantis of Florida, who is considered to be a leading candidate within the Republican Party in the next presidential election, said at a press conference on the 20th, “I can’t say. I have real tasks to do in Florida,” and kept his distance. rice field.
Last year, it was revealed that Mr. Trump was involved in election interference, including threatening the secretary of state of southern Georgia to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, and his involvement in the 2021 congressional attack. An investigation is also underway into the removal of a large number of confidential documents.