Ajit Karn
New York: US media reported that a New York grand jury will not convene on Wednesday, deferring a decision on whether to indict former president Donald Trump for paying hush money to a pornstar.
The secretive commission typically meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, leading to rumours that a vote on the historic indictment of the former president was imminent.
Multiple US news agencies were informed by unidentified law enforcement officials that Wednesday’s session was canceled, but no reason was provided. According to the New York Times, interruptions during grand jury proceedings are not uncommon.
Insider, which first reported the cancelled meeting, cited a source as saying the panel may not convene again this week, indicating a decision may not be made until Monday.
With barricades outside Trump Tower and police on high alert, New York has been awaiting the expected indictment with bated breath for days, especially after Trump’s weekend claim that he would be apprehended on Tuesday. He did not.
If the commission votes to indict, the 76-year-old Republican would be the first former or incumbent president ever to be charged with a crime.
The unprecedented action would send shockwaves through the 2024 presidential election campaign, in which Trump is vying for reelection.
It would also increase the likelihood that a former free-world leader would be detained, booked, fingerprinted, and possibly handcuffed.
In January, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg convened a grand jury to investigate the 2016 payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels.
To prevent perjury or witness interference prior to trials, grand juries operate behind closed doors, making it nearly impossible to observe their proceedings.
The Bragg spokesperson told AFP that she “cannot confirm or comment on grand jury matters.”
Even after the commission has reached a verdict, it is unclear when Bragg will announce charges.
It may be some time before Trump, who is presently at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, is brought before a Manhattan Criminal Court magistrate, according to legal experts.
The hush-money payment was allegedly made weeks before the 2016 presidential election to prevent Daniels from disclosing a relationship she claims she had with Trump years earlier.
Trump has denied the affair and referred to the investigation as a “witch hunt.”
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Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney-turned-adversary, testified before a grand jury in 2019 that he made the payment on Trump’s behalf and was subsequently reimbursed.
According to experts, the payment to Daniels could result in a misdemeanour allegation for falsifying business records if it is not properly accounted for.
If the false accounting was intended to conceal a second offense, such as a campaign finance violation, which is punishable by up to four years in prison, the charge could be upgraded to a felony.
According to analysts, this argument is unproven and would be difficult to prove in court, and incarceration is not guaranteed.
An indictment would initiate a protracted procedure that could last at least several months. As jury selection progresses, the case will confront a mountain of legal issues and create a security nightmare for Secret Service agents who safeguard Trump.
Trump’s call for massive protests if he is indicted has stoked concerns of unrest comparable to the January 6, 2021 violence at the US Capitol, but so far protests have been small and subdued.
Police in New York have erected barricades in front of the courthouse and Trump Tower.
Trump faces multiple state and federal criminal investigations for possible wrongdoing that imperil his White House bid, many of which are more severe than the Manhattan case.
His efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his management of classified documents, and his possible involvement in the January 6 riots are examples.
Some observers believe an indictment portends ill for Trump’s chances in 2024, whereas others believe it could bolster his support.
