Prosecutors: Trump manipulated business data to influence elections. Former President: Charges, Political

According to prosecutors, beginning in August 2015, he orchestrated an illegal scheme in collaboration with others to influence the 2016 presidential elections, the scheme he envisioned, the purchase of related negative information not to allow their publication, as they could undermine the chances of being elected. Mr. Trump was acquitted in front of a judge in New York. He then made a public appearance, from his residence to Mar- A-Lago.

In his first response after his recognition of the charges, the former president made sharp criticism, calling them politically motivated. At his residence in Mar-Lago in Florida on Tuesday evening, the former president spoke to supporters, throwing numerous accusations, in a speech, which according to observers resembled an electoral speech. He was tough with prosecutor Alvin Bragg, as well as with the Judge of the Juan Merchan case, even though he had been warned several hours earlier in court not to use a promotional rhetoric. The former president insists the issue against him is a political attack, aimed at damaging his ambitions for the 2024 presidential election.

I never thought anything like this would happen in America. The only crime I've committed has been our country's fearless defense against those who seek to destroy it. From the very beginning, the Democrats have been listening to my electoral team. They attacked me with false investigation into Russia and Ukraine. They failed Congress trials for my dismissal. They illegally and anti-unconstitutionally raided my residence in Mar-a-Lago”, he said.

Mr. Trump said the Democrats have stepped up their efforts by pressing criminal charges against the president of 45 of the United States.

This false indictment was filed only to intervene in the upcoming 2024 elections and must be closed. Our justice system doesn't function. They're using it now, except everything else, to win the” election.

Trump leads in the race among republican candidates for the 2024 elections. He viciously attacked the prosecutor and the judge handling his case last night, despite counseling a few hours earlier not to use inflammatory rhetoric.

Here we go. I have a judge who hates Trump, with a woman who hates Trump. Their daughter worked for Mrs Kamala Harris and is now paid by the Biden-Haris” campaign.

Most Republicans running for the White House or planning to declare candidacy have voiced support for Mr. Trump, saying investigations into the former presidents are politically motivated.

The charges are based on the $130,000 fee to buy the silence of former pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels, for a sexual relationship she claims had with Mr. Trump. The payment was made by Mr. Trump Michael Cohen's lawyer, who said every move was directed by the former president. As part of the scheme, Manhattan prosecutors mentioned two more cases of payment. One of $150,000, which David Pecker, a friend of Mr. Trump and editor of National Enquirer magazine, made to former magazine model “Playboy”, Karen McDougal, who also claims to have had a relationship with Mr. Trump in the mid-20000s.

Likewise, Mr. Pecker paid $30,000 for the goalkeeper of the Trump Tower, who claimed that Mr. Trump had a child of an extramarital relationship. A story that later proved to be false, but yet Mr. Cohen had asked Mr. Pecker not to break the deal guaranteeing his silence on this alleged case.

Fifty-four false statements made to cover other crimes. These are considered serious criminal acts in the state of New York, regardless of who committed them”, prosecutor Bragg said.

Criminal charges against the former presidents were approved by a large jury. They were immediately criticized by the republican allies of Mr. Trump. Some legal experts have raised questions about them, others see it as evidence of the functioning of the justice system.

The “issue will be considered based on laws and facts. And I also don't think it will help Mr. Trump, in front of public opinion, because most Americans want the legal process to function fully and fairly, even when it comes to a former president”, says Paul Schiff Berman, law professor at George Washington University.

Among those gathered outside New York's court on Tuesday were supporters and opponents of Mr. Trump.

He's a fraud. He still deceives many, but not New Yorkers. I hope they see the right path”, says Jennifer Fisher, critical of Mr. Trump.

But former president's supporters think differently.

I support my president, Donald Trump, the biggest president in American history, perhaps the best leader ever to have Earth planet”, says Dion Cin, supporter of Mr. Trump.

The trial against former President Trump is a innovation for the American justice system, since it is the first time a former president is charged under the penal code. The case is also complicated for the very nature of the charges, as there are different opinions from experts about how convincing the prosecution's evidence will be, since the key witness appears to be former Mr. Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen, himself discredited as previously incredible and condemned in 2018 for false statements, though he himself says he has changed and is already telling the truth. The next session is scheduled for December. Prosecutors have called for the start of the trial in January, but defence lawyers have called for the postponement until spring. / VOA