US on edge over possible former President Trump indictment

WASHINGTON: The US is on edge over the possibility that former President Donald Trump would be indicted over an alleged hush-money payment during his 2016 election campaign. Law enforcement in major American cities, including New York City and Washington, D.C., have ramped up security this week, reports Xinhua news agency.

“While law enforcement is not tracking any specific, credible threats against the Capitol or state offices, there is potential for demonstration activity,” the Senate sergeant at arms recently wrote in a notice to the offices of Senators. Capitol Police are “working with law enforcement partners, so you may observe a greater law enforcement presence on Capitol Hill”, the notice read. Bike racks have been set up along some streets near the Capitol, located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Authorities have also erected metal barricades outside the district attorney’s office and the criminal court in Manhattan. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform over the weekend that he expected to be arrested this week in connection to the Manhattan district attorney’s office’s probe into the 2016 payment made to American adult film actress Stormy Daniels. In the post, Trump urged his supporters to “protest, take our nation back”.

Joe Tacopina, Trump’s attorney, warned that it would be “an all-out war” if Trump, who’s seeking the White House again in 2024, is indicted. US Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, also suggested that bringing charges against Trump would “blow up our country”.

The investigation is examining Trump’s involvement in the payment of $130,000 to Daniels in order to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter she said she had with him in 2006. Then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, before being reimbursed by the Trump Organization, which described the reimbursement as legal fees.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and that the affair happened, while charging that the inquiry led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, is politically motivated. (IANS)