Trump

Once all the witnesses have testified, prosecutors must explain the criminal charges they are seeking to the jury of 23 Manhattan residents before asking them ...

Because of the nature of the potential charges against Mr. Trump, the defendant, in the thick of his campaign. But because of Mr. Law enforcement agencies around New York have also had discussions about how to prepare for the prospect of protests, which Mr. While it is clear that Manhattan prosecutors have been investigating the role Mr. Mr. However, there is some chance that Mr. Bragg will opt not to seek an indictment (or that he will seek one and grand jurors will vote to reject it). Trump would almost certainly be sealed, and the charges would be kept secret from the public after the grand jurors vote. Trump, who lives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, would travel to the city and turn himself in at the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The earliest that could happen is Wednesday afternoon. Bragg, must ask the grand jury that has been hearing evidence about the former president to vote on whether to charge him.

Federal officials, including those at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, are monitoring what they say has been an uptick in violent rhetoric ...

Law enforcement and security experts told CNN they are not seeing large groups animating around Trump’s Truth Social post calling for protest at any level near what they saw at January 6. The memo also cautioned that while Trump’s influence with moderate conservatives has “waned since he left office, some of his most ardent supporters continue to condone political violence and continue to be willing to fight on behalf of the former president.” Jones, president of Advance Democracy, a not-for-profit research organization, told CNN. Officials in Washington are preparing for demonstrations surrounding any indictment of Trump that could erupt into violence, a district official told CNN on Monday. A key difference two years after January 6, sources tell CNN, is the threat of arrest has risen in the minds of many potential protesters. Some posts from influential right-wing figures in recent days have seemingly been more geared at creating chaos than at sparking violence.

Police in New York, Washington DC and Los Angeles are prepared to mobilise if Trump is arrested.

But legal analysts say it could be upgraded to a more serious felony charge, which carries prison time, if prosecutors argue the lie was used in order to violate campaign laws. His office is evaluating how the former president reimbursed Mr Cohen. He claimed Mr Cohen, whom he used to work with, had once told him that Mr Trump was not aware of the payment to Ms Daniels. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a Trump ally named Robert Costello who was called by the Trump team to undermine the prosecution's star witness, Mr Cohen. The Secret Service agents assigned to protect Mr Trump are expected to stay with him in the event of an arrest. US intelligence officials have detected an uptick in online threats against legal and government officials since Mr Trump wrote online on Saturday that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday.

Trump in a social media post said he expects to be arrested in the criminal probe, where a grand jury is eyeing a payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen gave Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

"This is is a politicization of our justice system frankly," she said. [It] would be a great mistake to indict President Trump." [Donald Trump](https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/) is "sad" but not afraid about the possibility of being criminally [charged](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/18/trump-says-he-will-be-arrested-tuesday-calls-on-supporters-to-protest-.html) in [New York City](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/trump-grand-jury-live-updates-expected-indictment-in-payoff-to-porn-star-stormy-daniels.html) over a hush money payment to a [porn star](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/trump-probe-porn-star-stormy-daniels-will-dance-if-he-is-jailed.html), one of his lawyers said Tuesday. Trump in a social media post over the weekend said he expected to be arrested Tuesday on an indictment in the criminal probe by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. - Trump in a social media post said he expects to be arrested in the criminal probe, where a grand jury is eyeing a payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen gave Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. - Former President Donald Trump is "sad" but not afraid about the possibility of being charged criminally by New York City prosecutors over a hush money payment to a porn star, one of his lawyers said.

Former President Donald Trump has said on social media that he expects to be arrested Tuesday in Manhattan on charges stemming from “hush money” payments ...

[Here’s What Will Happen If Trump Is Arrested (Yes, He'll Probably Get A Mugshot)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/?sh=18d5153575d5) (Forbes) [New York And D.C. If [he is arrested](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/), Trump is expected to voluntarily surrender to the authorities and will be arraigned in Manhattan, though it’s expected he would be immediately released on his own recognizance and would not be held in custody. [“hush money” payments](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/nyregion/trump-stormy-daniels-felony-charges.html) Cohen made to Daniels, which were made during Trump’s 2016 campaign to cover up an alleged affair. Many of the president’s fans and organizers of the January 6 riot have reportedly [discouraged](https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1637876396771930112) each other from protesting this time around, [saying](https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-jan-6-protest-f19306253133d9dacd65667bd5b4650c?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_03) they believe protesting would be a “trap” for them to be caught by law enforcement. Beef Up Security For Possible Trump Indictment Unrest](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/new-york-and-dc-beef-up-security-for-possible-trump-indictment-unrest/?sh=117420a617f8) (Forbes) [Trump Says He Will Be Arrested Tuesday—Urges Supporters To Protest](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/03/18/trump-says-he-will-be-arrested-tuesday-urges-supporters-to-protest/?sh=23f6442317fa) (Forbes) [putting up barriers](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/new-york-and-dc-beef-up-security-for-possible-trump-indictment-unrest/?sh=117420a617f8) Monday around the courthouse in Manhattan where Trump could be arraigned, as well as the U.S. A handful of protests are reportedly planned for Tuesday—including one at an [In-N-Out](https://twitter.com/RogerJStoneJr/status/1637139364055506946?s=20) in California—though it remains unclear how many Trump supporters will show up. [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/trump-indictment-arrest-protests.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) that they would still have to arrange the timing of Trump’s surrender to authorities, along with his travel to Manhattan and other logistics. Falsifying records can be a felony in New York if done to cover up another crime, and legal experts cited by [Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-risks-zero-to-4-years-jail-ny-hush-money-2023-1?r=US&IR=T) speculate Trump could face a prison sentence of up to four years if he’s convicted. How long it will take for Trump to be arrested. The Manhattan DA’s office has been investigating Trump since 2019, and while the payments to Daniels were the initial focus of the probe, it then expanded to more broadly look at the Trump Organization’s financials. [said](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/03/18/trump-says-he-will-be-arrested-tuesday-urges-supporters-to-protest/?sh=23f6442317fa) on Truth Social Saturday he would be arrested on Tuesday and called for protests, though his attorneys later [confirmed](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-expects-to-be-arrested-tuesday-as-da-eyes-charges/) that was speculation on his part and they were not given any advance notice that he would be arrested on Tuesday.

Friends and foes of Donald Trump have joined him in an unprecedented money grab to boost their own campaign coffers ahead of the former president's possible ...

NEW YORK — With Donald Trump expected to be indicted in the coming days, his supporters, critics, New York law enforcement officials and a variety of other ...

Whenever he comes to New York, he and his attorney will report to the district attorney’s office where Trump will be arrested and booked, which means he’ll be finger-printed and have his mug shot taken. It is possible that he’ll be handcuffed when he is transported from the district attorney’s office to court — a short walk away within the same building. And then he’ll be released, because the charges he is likely to face are non-bailable. Because the case is white-collar, the district attorney’s office will ask Trump’s attorney when he plans to come to New York to be arraigned. Once the indictment is stamped, the district attorney’s office will notify an attorney for Trump that he has been indicted. In many ways, the mechanics of indicting Trump are likely to be the same as they would be for any other defendant charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The former president could become the first to face criminal charges. Here's what possibly lies ahead.

If Mr Trump were convicted on the felony charge, he would face a maximum sentence of four years in prison, although some legal experts predict a fine is more probable, and that any time behind bars is highly unlikely. Mr Trump would then wait in a holding area or cell until his appearance before a judge. Once inside, however, Mr Trump will be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken like all defendants in criminal cases. The decision on whether to file charges rests with New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Prosecutors could also potentially allege that this breaks election law, because his attempt to hide his payments to Ms Daniels was motivated by not wanting voters to know he had an affair with her. However, when Mr Trump reimbursed Mr Cohen, the record for the payment says it was for legal fees.

It would be uncharted territory, but the F.B.I. search of Mar-a-Lago offers at least some precedent.

[rallying protesters](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/trump-indictment-arrest-protests.html) and the potential for violence. It brings the possibility that Mr. As recently as two months ago, he was in the mid-30s — he currently enjoys the support of a group of voters who seem quite willing to go in a different direction under slightly different circumstances. That may not be enough to win, and solidifying the case against you is a risky gamble. The upside for Mr. That’s enough to win the primary. Still, it’s a little much to argue that many Republicans who don’t support him for the nomination today would be far likelier to back him after an indictment. His defeat in the 2020 presidential election, the fallout from Jan. But the search did not have a discernible effect on Mr. A new legal line would be crossed, even if this story is already playing out much like the F.B.I. We know this part of the world is probably ocean, but we don’t know much else. Conservatives circled the wagons and argued that the search of a former president was an unjust act of partisan politics.

NEW YORK: Barricades set up near Trump Tower, police on high alert, and throngs of journalists outside the prosecutor's office: New York was waiting on ...

Trump called over the weekend for mass protests if he is indicted, but there has so far been no indication of any large movement. Advertisement

Donald Trump will try to turn any indictment to his advantage by stoking anger among core supporters over what they see as the weaponization of the justice ...

Trump has defied predictions of his demise numerous times since he launched his bid for the White House in 2015. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite the emergence of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in which he made vulgar comments about women. "It’s not good for Trump, the question is how bad for Trump it is," said Sabato. [YouTube](/business/media-telecom/youtube-restores-donald-trumps-channel-2023-03-17/) became the latest platform to reinstate him on Friday. An indictment could make it difficult for him to broaden his appeal. While the prosecution of a former president is unprecedented in U.S.

As speculation mounts that Donald Trump could soon be indicted over hush money payments, Alvin Bragg may have to make a history-making decision.

In every prosecution, we follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth. If the grand jury does indict Trump, the logistics of bringing him in for fingerprinting for an arraignment will be an enormous test of Bragg's ability to coordinate with the former president, his lawyers, the Secret Service and the police. We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law ... And something that we want to know: were federal funds involved? - If the grand jury votes to indict, it would be the first time a former president has been indicted. But I do give [Bragg] credit for starting from scratch, building his own case and making sure that he feels comfortable with it."

The Manhattan district attorney has considerable leeway in deciding whether to bring charges against the former president using what could be an untested ...

“This has a bit of the Al Capone-y feel to it — where they got him on the tax evasion because they couldn’t get him on murder — which is acceptable if and only if you are convinced of the fundamental criminality of Al Capone,” Mr. It is not clear there are any other examples of New Yorkers falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment during a campaign. Trump should go to prison, he worried that “this may be the wrong case to do it.” Cohen had “acted in coordination with and at the direction of” Mr. A jury acquitted him of one charge and hung on others; the case was not retried. If prosecutors single out one person for charges when they choose not to charge other people who committed similar offenses, the result is selective enforcement of the law. Under the rule of law, the government is supposed to treat people the same way regardless of who they are — which means treating like cases alike. Trump have expressed uneasiness, while cautioning that much remains unknown about the facts of the case and any charges that Mr. In the United States, prosecutors have broad latitude to choose among a range of options in handling a criminal case, from selecting more or less harsh charges as part of an indictment, to striking a plea bargain, to bringing no charges at all. One factor behind giving prosecutors such broad latitude is that criminal laws are broadly written and do not always account for every circumstance, so sometimes the interest of justice is served by not bringing charges. WASHINGTON — The Manhattan district attorney’s looming decision about whether to seek an indictment of former President Donald J. In this case, the public understanding of the theory of the case being assembled by the district attorney, Alvin L.

Former President Donald Trump wasn't arrested by early evening Tuesday, but U.S. House Republicans criticized any such move as a prosecutorial abuse.

chooses to go back many, many years ago to try and use something about porn star hush money payments, that’s an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” “The Radical Left is trying to use this latest witch hunt to intimidate you,” an email from the National Republican Congressional Committee said. Trump, who lost reelection in 2020 after one term in office, was the first major candidate to announce he was running for the GOP nomination for president in 2024. House Republicans followed Trump’s lead in criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for what they said was an unfair prosecution of the former president that would undermine confidence in the next presidential election. “But what I can speak to is that if you have a prosecutor who … He used the specter of his indictment to galvanize his supporters, calling for protests. Capitol, the site of the Jan. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We need every single patriot to immediately condemn this witch hunt.” The grounds surrounding the U.S. Echoing Trump’s criticisms, the House members accused Bragg of “searching for a basis — any basis” to prosecute the former president. A bicyclist rode across the East Front plaza, children played nearby and a dog was having a photo shoot.

To try to convict the former president of a felony, prosecutors might attempt to connect state election law to a federal election.

That crime could be a violation of election law, under the theory that the payout served as a donation to Mr. Bragg’s office has ways to extend that statute of limitations to cover the events stemming from the 2016 payment. They ultimately concluded that it was too risky to use a federal election law violation as the second crime. But there are exceptions to federal pre-emption contained in regulations from the Federal Election Commission, known as the F.E.C. One of the lawyers recently argued in television interviews that Mr. If his office uses a federal election violation as the second crime, Mr. Trump’s lawyers have said that the theory that the money amounted to a campaign donation is fatally flawed. Bragg’s office is likely to build the case around that charge, according to people with knowledge of the matter and outside legal experts. Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, handled reimbursing Mr. The case could hinge on the way Mr. Trump directed him to pay off the porn star, Stormy Daniels, and that the former president reimbursed Mr. Bringing an untested case against anyone, let alone a former president of the United States, carries the risk that a court could throw out or narrow the case.

Former President Donald Trump exiting an SUV while two service men hold the door open. Photograph: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images.

[almost unfathomable](https://www.wired.com/story/deepfakes-getting-better-theyre-easy-spot/) that the average person would soon be able to fabricate photorealistic deepfakes of world leaders at home. “So very famous people are rendered extremely well, while less famous people are usually a bit wonky.” For more peace of mind about the algorithm’s ability to re-create your face, it might be worth thinking twice before posting a photo dump of selfies after a fun night out with friends. For example, the police wear badges, hats, and other documents that appear to have lettering, at first glance, in the fake images of officers arresting Trump. Keep in mind that world leaders, celebrities, social media influencers, and anyone with large quantities of photos circulating online may appear more convincing in deepfaked photos than AI-generated images of people with less of a visible internet presence. Even though it’s obvious now, it’s possible that the algorithm might be able to avoid peculiar-looking body parts with more training and Does the rest of the image appear to be an afterthought?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The conundrum that confronts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis if he runs for president against one-time ally Donald Trump was on full display ...

The governor added, “I’ve got real issues I’ve got to deal with here in the state of Florida.” As a side note: The governor would not be involved with extradition if Trump surrenders, but he could delay the proceedings if it’s contested. That’s a line of criticism in the spirit of what many other Republican supporters of Trump have said. “I have no interest in getting involved in some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA,” he said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) criticized former President Donald Trump for not firing federal health official Anthony Fauci and mocked Trump's nicknames for ...

[Trump Ramps Up DeSantis Attacks: Allies Prepare Ethics Complaint And Look For Dirt On Florida Governor](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/15/trump-ramps-up-desantis-attacks-allies-prepare-ethics-complaint-and-look-for-dirt-on-florida-governor/?sh=7b10e7d24a23) (Forbes) [Trump Suggests DeSantis Will Face Allegations From ‘Underage’ Girls ‘Or Possibly A Man!’ After Speaking Out On Manhattan Probe](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/trump-suggests-desantis-will-face-allegations-from-underage-girls-or-possibly-a-man-after-speaking-out-on-manhattan-probe/?sh=3e03978d29d5) (Forbes) [DeSantis Breaks Silence On Possible Trump Charges—And Criticizes N.Y. Earlier this month, DeSantis and Trump appeared at [competing GOP events](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/02/heres-why-trump-was-snubbed-by-a-major-conservative-event-headlined-by-desantis/?sh=3f611cca61e2): the American Conservative Union’s CPAC, where Trump spoke, and the Club for Growth, a fiscally-conservative organization that snubbed Trump and featured DeSantis. super PAC—run by Trump allies— [prepared an ethics complaint](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/15/trump-ramps-up-desantis-attacks-allies-prepare-ethics-complaint-and-look-for-dirt-on-florida-governor/?sh=7b10e7d24a23) with the Florida Commission on Ethics, accusing DeSantis of running a shadow campaign through a “personally lucrative book tour” that comes “at the expense of Florida taxpayers.” Trump has repeatedly attacked DeSantis on Truth Social, including a post earlier this month [attacking DeSantis](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/06/trump-attacks-desantis-on-truth-social-playing-up-narrative-that-gop-wants-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare/?sh=765120b21912) for his prior position on cutting Social Security and Medicare. [Truth Social post](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/20/trump-suggests-desantis-will-face-allegations-from-underage-girls-or-possibly-a-man-after-speaking-out-on-manhattan-probe/?sh=3e03978d29d5) Monday, arguing he could face allegations from a “woman, even classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!)”—comments some [critics have cast as](https://twitter.com/gtconway3d/status/1637879047220006913?s=20) homophobic. The governor accused Bragg of carrying out a “political agenda,” but mocked the alleged payments, [telling reporters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9n_h6D1l4) in Florida: “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair.” Prosecutor For ‘Political Agenda’](https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/03/20/desantis-breaks-silence-on-possible-trump-charges-and-criticizes-ny-prosecutor-for-political-agenda/?sh=26938e51635c) (Forbes) [Here’s Why Trump Was Snubbed By A Major Conservative Event Headlined By DeSantis](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/02/heres-why-trump-was-snubbed-by-a-major-conservative-event-headlined-by-desantis/?sh=3f611cca61e2) (Forbes) The governor praised Trump in a [campaign ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1YP_zZJFXs) that showed him teaching children to “build the wall,” and reading from Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.” Their relationship soured amid growing speculation DeSantis is planning a 2024 presidential run, which would put him head-to-head with Trump in the GOP primaries. DeSantis hasn’t announced a 2024 run, but it’s widely believed he will launch a campaign in the coming months, after breaking fundraising records in his gubernatorial run last year and visiting Iowa this month. Florida has recorded 403 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents since the start of the pandemic, above the nationwide rate of 337, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Trump has also used Truth Social in recent months to post a series of [links to polls](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/02/27/trump-blasts-fox-news-again-for-promoting-desantis-so-hard-and-so-much/?sh=6b20bd4a5608) indicating Republican voters favor Trump in a hypothetical 2024 match-up ( [other](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/02/13/desantis-is-more-popular-than-trump-among-these-key-groups-ahead-of-2024-poll-finds/?sh=13eabce144d7) [polls](https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/13/desantis-surges-over-trump-among-gop-by-double-digit-margins-poll-finds/?sh=436ebfd4303b) have indicated otherwise).

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is no longer veiling his presidential ambitions or his criticism of former President Trump, taking a new gloves-off approach in a ...

"Truth is essential," DeSantis responded when asked if there’s been a departure from the truth being a key component of leadership. - "I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. Trump's escalating attacks on his former ally have become more personal in recent weeks — and now DeSantis is punching back. - "I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this state to the next level." - "At the end of the day as a leader, you really want to look to people like our Founding Fathers," DeSantis said when Morgan asked if personal conduct in a leader matters. [igniting outrage in Trumpworld](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/donald-trump-ron-desantis-indictment-cold-war-turns-hot-rcna75804) with a shot at Trump over the former president's alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, DeSantis told Morgan that the "underlying conduct" in the Manhattan DA's investigation is "outside my wheelhouse."

In a TV interview, the Florida Republican takes shots at his possible rival's leadership style.

"That is purported to be it, and the reality is that's just outside my wheelhouse. Donald Trump Jr, the former president's eldest son, accused Mr DeSantis of "pathetically" attacking Mr Trump "on orders" from the Republican "establishment". On the topic of a former Trump fixer's hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, Mr DeSantis said there had been "a lot of speculation about what the underlying conduct is".

With a decision looming from a New York grand jury and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) regarding an indictment of Donald Trump, ...

Capitol, McCarthy on Sunday [urged](https://nypost.com/2023/03/20/republicans-allay-trumps-calls-for-protest-of-his-possible-arrest/) Trump supporters to stay home. 6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/january-6-capitol-riot/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9), 2021, assault on the U.S. [shrunk](https://www.axios.com/2022/12/15/trump-republican-favorability-polls), and it’s logical to assume that GOP primary voters nervous about reelecting Trump would hardly be assuaged if he were indicted in this case or perhaps other, [more serious](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61084161) ones. His poll numbers might spike, but that says little about his ability to navigate through a primary season under the shadow of a criminal case, and possibly civil or criminal charges stemming from other current investigations. Taking a step back, the “this will only help him” view is a bizarre way of converting a story about serious matters such as the rule of law and the lies Trump is accused of making to get elected into a morally neutral, albeit baseless, election prediction exercise. “But, being indicted I don’t think ever helps anybody.” This view should be taken seriously, coming from a former prosecutor and longtime observer of Trump’s psyche. That raises the possibility of a temporary self-fulfilling boost for Trump. Perhaps recognizing the echoes of Trump’s “will be wild” [invitation ](https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-florida-donald-trump-conspiracy-congress-040a763522081e592af10fae682fda70)before the [Jan. A handful of loud MAGA Republicans taking Trump’s side isn’t convincing evidence that the base as a whole is rallying to his side. [call for protests](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/18/trump-protest-arrest-new-york/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9) if he is arrested, as the former president predicted. However, the governor seemed to delight in repeating the charge that Trump had paid hush money to an adult-film star. Congressional MAGA hotheads Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), along with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Sen.

He responded to the former president's wave of social media attacks during an interview with Piers Morgan.

“I think the person is more about how you handle your public duties and the kind of character you bring to that endeavor.” “He’s exposing himself as 100% Controlled Opposition!” [Morgan was quick to respond](https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1638300428931670022): “He’s been attacking DeSantis for months,” he wrote. I can’t speak to that,” DeSantis said, adding that he has no interest in getting involved in the investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. But during a press conference Monday, DeSantis took an indirect shot at Trump while addressing the investigation into Trump over hush money that Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016. Though DeSantis has yet to say whether or not he intends to launch a campaign in 2024, he is already viewed as a front-runner in a GOP primary that so far includes Trump, former South Carolina Gov. DeSantis addressed the new nickname during the interview.

Ron DeSantis is flashing a newfound willingness to strike back at Donald Trump after largely ignoring the former president's intensifying attacks.

Ex-president attempts to capitalize on anticipated charges over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

The Books a Million website lists several books authored by Trump as [out of stock](https://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=trump&filter=authors%3ATrump%2C+Donald+J.&sort=date). Donald Trump Jr, Trump’s son, is [the co-founder](https://45books.com/pages/about-us) of Winning Team Publishing, which, like Books a Million, is offering Trump’s upcoming book, Letters To Trump, for sale on its website. It also spent thousands of dollars advertising on Facebook and Newsmax, the rightwing news channel which champions Trump on a near-daily basis, while book purchases accounted for a surprising amount of expenditure. The committee had just $3.8m cash on hand at the end of 2022, according to its [two](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202210159536888052) [purchases](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202210159536888051), on books from the Books a Million retailer alone. Between 15 November 2022, when Trump announced his run for president, and 31 December 2022 Trump’s campaign said he had raised $9.5m, or $201,600 a day. “These are truly dark times …” began an email sent by Trump on Monday. Each ends with a plea for donations, the language used changing slightly each time. Trump’s pleas for money could make sense given his relatively poor fundraising so far. [$47,689.40 worth of books](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202207159521741960) from Winning Team Publishing in May 2022. [$1,696 payment](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202207159521741960) to Trump Hotel Collection. [around the Manhattan criminal courthouse](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/21/new-york-prepares-for-possible-unrest-if-donald-trump-is-indicted) in New York City, an email from Trump’s re-election campaign shared a photo of the scene in another fundraising email, asking supporters to: “Please make a contribution to stand with President Trump at this critical moment.”

People close to former president said to be unsure whether he is serious about wanting to do a perp walk.

But Trump has rejected that approach and told various allies over the weekend that he didn’t care if someone shot him – he would become “a martyr”. Trump later reimbursed Cohen with $35,000 checks using his personal funds, which were recorded as legal expenses to Cohen. Trump’s increasing insistence that he wants to be handcuffed behind his back for a perp walk appears to come from various motivations, including that he wants to project defiance in the face of what he sees as an unfair prosecution and that it would galvanize his base for his 2024 presidential campaign.

Former President Donald Trump has told advisors he wants his potentially imminent arrest to be a public “spectacle” including handcuffs and a “perp walk” to ...

It’ll then probably take a while before his case goes to trial, as legal experts cited by [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-could-be-charged-any-day-what-happens-next-2023-03-19/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Daily-Docket&utm_term=032023) noted Manhattan criminal cases typically take more than a year to go to trial—potentially setting Trump up to be convicted during the 2024 election. Trump allegedly reimbursed his ex-attorney Michael Cohen for the $130,000 in payments to Daniels, but labeled the payments as legal fees, and it’s expected prosecutors will charge Trump with falsifying business records as a result. In New York, that can be a felony if it’s used to cover up another crime—as prosecutors are expected to argue was the case here—and legal experts cited by [Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-risks-zero-to-4-years-jail-ny-hush-money-2023-1?r=US&IR=T) speculate Trump could face a prison sentence of up to four years if he’s convicted. The grand jury that will vote on his indictment will meet on Wednesday and more information about Trump’s indictment could come out after they meet, though it’s still unclear if they could vote then on whether he should be indicted. [Trump is arrested](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/?sh=f5dad6175d51), he’s expected to appear in person in Manhattan, where he would be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken before being arraigned and pleading not guilty to the charges against him. If the jury does vote on Trump’s indictment, his arrest would not come immediately after, as prosecutors and Trump’s legal team would likely then have to arrange the logistics of his surrender. [Trump wants to be handcuffed for court appearance in Stormy Daniels case, sources say](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/22/trump-wants-to-be-handcuffed-for-court-appearance-in-stormy-daniels-case-sources-say) (The Guardian) [Trump at Mar-a-Lago: Magical Thinking and a Perp-Walk Fixation](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/us/politics/trump-pending-indictment.html) (New York Times) [Here’s What Will Happen If Trump Is Arrested (Yes, He’ll Probably Get A Mugshot)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/20/heres-what-will-happen-if-trump-is-arrested/?sh=f5dad6175d51) (Forbes) [“hush money” payments](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/nyregion/trump-stormy-daniels-felony-charges.html) made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election to cover up an alleged affair. [arrested Tuesday](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/21/will-trump-be-arrested-tuesday-heres-what-we-know-but-its-unlikely/?sh=561db8684909)—which his attorneys later clarified was speculation—that did not come to pass. “He wants to be defiant — to show the world that if they can try to do this to him, they can do it to anyone,” a source who spoke to Trump told the Times. Trump’s desire for his arrest to be a “spectacle” appears to be because he wants to fire up his base and “project defiance,” the Guardian notes, reporting he’s “deeply anxious” that more muted proceedings would “make him look weak or like a loser.” Trump has told associates that he “wants to be handcuffed” when he’s arraigned in court after being indicted, the Guardian reports based on anonymous sources, noting the ex-president’s “increasing insistence that he wants to be handcuffed behind his back for a perp walk.”

ABC News' Aaron Katersky reports on signs that the Manhattan district attorney is wrapping up an investigation into former President Donald Trump's involvement ...

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is mulling whether to charge Trump with falsifying business records, after the Trump Organization allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the payment then logged the reimbursement as a legal expense, sources have told ABC News. White collar criminal defendants in New York are typically allowed to negotiate a surrender. The Constitution provides the right to peaceably assemble. "What we see before us is a political game being played by a local. A grand jury will reconvene on Wednesday to continue to weigh charges against former President Donald Trump in connection with the Manhattan district attorney's probe into the 2016 hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. "Every American has the right to let their voice be heard.

People close to former president said to be unsure whether he is serious about wanting to do a perp walk. Plus, eight things the world must do to avoid the ...

The species exhibits “extreme polygyny”, in which a small proportion of the largest and most dominant males – known as beachmasters – control harems of breeding females. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published the “synthesis report” of its sixth assessment report (AR6) on Monday. They include restoring other degraded land, and stopping it being turned to agriculture, stopping deforestation, changing agriculture, and changing the way we eat. Eight years in preparation, this mammoth report encompasses the entire range of human knowledge of the climate system, compiled by hundreds of scientists from thousands of academic papers, and published in four parts, in August 2021, February and April 2022, and March 2023. Pittman’s plan was to place the buses on the land, transform one into a living space, and turn the other two into mobile salons. In a 52-page witness statement published yesterday, he wrote: “I accept that the House of Commons was misled by my statements that the rules and guidance had been followed completely at No 10. In 2022 there were more deaths than births in the Chinese capital, resulting in a natural population growth of minus 0.05 per 1,000 people. Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attempts to advance into the centre of the small eastern city of Bakhmut yesterday. He later added that if he got shot, he would probably win the presidency in 2024, the sources said. Trump told various allies over the weekend that he didn’t care if someone shot him – he would become “a martyr”. If the committee decides he “recklessly” misled MPs, he faces being suspended from parliament. But above all, people close to Trump said, he was deeply anxious that any special arrangements – such as making his first court appearance by video link or skulking into the courthouse – would make him look weak or like a loser.

It took an accountant to nail Al Capone, as they say. But Donald Trump is not a 1920s Chicago mafia boss. He is a former and possibly future US president ...

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. Compare Standard and Premium Digital For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital,

A New York grand jury was expected on Wednesday to resume its closed-door investigation of whether Donald Trump made illegal hush-money payments to a porn ...

The court system should not be perceived to be involved in the political process," Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, told reporters. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a witness, lawyer Robert Costello, who said that Cohen acted on his own. One such email, on Tuesday, was titled, “Barricades arrive at Manhattan Criminal Court” and included a picture that appeared to show a metal barrier being unloaded from an NYPD truck. If charges were filed, Trump would have to travel to New York from his Florida home for a mug shot and fingerprinting. [investigating](/legal/trump-hush-money-charges-would-bring-zombie-case-back-life-2023-03-22/) $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Tuesday, the day Trump had predicted he would be arrested, came and went without action.

Former President Donald Trump's claim that he would be arrested Tuesday had not materialized by late Tuesday night.

chooses to go back many, many years ago to try and use something about porn star hush money payments, that’s an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” “The Radical Left is trying to use this latest witch hunt to intimidate you,” an email from the National Republican Congressional Committee said. Trump, who lost reelection in 2020 after one term in office, was the first major candidate to announce he was running for the GOP nomination for president in 2024. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. House Republicans followed Trump’s lead in criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for what they said was an unfair prosecution of the former president that would undermine confidence in the next presidential election. He used the specter of his indictment to galvanize his supporters, calling for protests. Capitol, the site of the Jan. “But what I can speak to is that if you have a prosecutor who … We need every single patriot to immediately condemn this witch hunt.” The grounds surrounding the U.S. A bicyclist rode across the East Front plaza, children played nearby and a dog was having a photo shoot. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Former President Donald Trump expects to be arrested over a hush money payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels. Follow live updates on the grand jury probe of ...

Trump may be able to avoid the spectacle: U.S. After getting booked, Trump would be transported to a courtroom for his arraignment. Trump's lawyers would be notified of the indictment and would negotiate a surrender date for their client. But no one is sure whether Trump's remarks are "bravado or genuine resignation," the newspaper reported. Trump denies the tryst. The company recorded the $130,000 payment as a legal expense. This is CNBC's live blog tracking developments Wednesday in the New York grand jury investigation of former U.S. It's unclear if Trump will be seen in handcuffs or required to do a "perp walk" — having to walk down a courthouse hallway in handcuffs in front of the press — on the way to his arraignment. See below for the latest updates. Trump said he welcomes the idea of having to do a "perp walk" — walking past a crowd of reporters, photographers and other onlookers on his way into a courtroom — following his arrest on possible criminal charges, The New York Times The Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for the payment, recording it as a legal expense. Prosecutors are considering whether to charge Trump in relation to misstating the purpose of the payment in business records, which could be a felony if it was done to cover up another crime.

The extraordinary legal peril surrounding Donald Trump is reaching a fever pitch at the same time the former president is forging ahead in a 2024 Republican ...

Amid the uncertainty over how the yearslong investigation will wrap, several advisers to the former president expressed frustration at the lack of information around a potential indictment and the logistical complications that would come with an appearance in New York, where Trump would be arraigned. Trump’s attorneys this week asked a judge to toss the final report and evidence from a special grand jury in Fulton County. Meanwhile, Trump is the focus of a separate investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith over the handling of classified documents.

A Manhattan grand jury could decide whether to indict Donald J. Trump as early as Wednesday, potentially touching off a sequence of events that could ...

Because of the nature of the potential charges against Mr. Trump, the defendant, in the thick of his campaign. But because of Mr. While it is clear that Manhattan prosecutors have been investigating the role Mr. Law enforcement agencies around New York have also had discussions about how to prepare for the prospect of protests, which Mr. Mr. Bragg will opt not to seek an indictment (or that he will seek one and grand jurors will vote to reject it). However, there is some chance that Mr. Trump would almost certainly be sealed, and the charges would be kept secret from the public after the grand jurors vote. Trump, who lives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, would travel to the city and turn himself in at the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The earliest that could happen is Wednesday afternoon. Bragg, must ask the grand jury that has been hearing evidence about the former president to vote on whether to charge him.

While prosecutors have signaled that an indictment of the former president is likely, its specific timing remains unclear, and grand juries conduct their ...

With the grand jury not meeting on Wednesday, the earliest that is likely to happen is Thursday afternoon. Bragg’s prosecutors must ask the grand jury to vote whether to charge him. A majority of the 23 jurors must agree to do so. Cohen, in the run-up to the 2016 election. Trump for the hush-money payment that was made by his former fixer, Michael D. The Manhattan grand jury that has been hearing evidence about Donald J.

NEW YORK — The Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence in the criminal investigation of Donald Trump's alleged role in a scheme to pay hush money to a porn ...

The grand jury typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, one of the people familiar with the matter said, and it heard from witnesses earlier this week. “The grand jury has been told to stay home today. NEW YORK — The Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence in the criminal investigation of Donald Trump’s alleged role in a scheme to pay hush money to a porn star won’t meet Wednesday as regularly scheduled, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The Manhattan grand jury that will decide whether to indict former President Donald Trump called off a planned meeting for Wednesday, according to multiple ...

A state prosecutor in Atlanta is also investigating his role in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. And the New York Attorney General is suing Trump and his children in civil court over allegations they illegally inflated the value of their assets to secure more favorable loans for the Trump Organization. The former president is facing two federal criminal probes looking at his role in the leadup to the January 6 riots and his handling of classified materials. Manhattan criminal cases typically take up to a year to be brought to trial, meaning Trump’s fate could be determined just before the 2024 presidential election or after his possible re-election. The misdemeanor charge carries a sentence of up to one year in jail, but a felony conviction of falsifying business records carries up to a four-year sentence. If Trump is indicted, it could be days or weeks before he is arrested and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court. Trump wants to be handcuffed and perp-walked past the media into the Manhattan Criminal Court in hopes of making his arrest a “spectacle,” he recently told his associates, according to Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance violations for orchestrating the deal, and he testified before the grand jury twice last week. However, Trump’s advisors are reportedly urging him to turn himself in quietly or remotely, citing security concerns that experts have said the Manhattan District Attorney’s office also likely shares. The classified document investigation heated up last week, after a federal judge reportedly ruled that one of Trump’s lawyers must testify in the case—an unusual move—and determined that prosecutors had If he is indicted, Trump is expected be released on his own recognizance under New York laws that require most non-violent defendants to be freed without bail while awaiting trial. That second crime could hinge on the federal campaign finance violations Cohen admitted to, though some attorneys say this approach is untested.

Manhattan prosecutors postponed a grand jury session in an investigation into Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter.

The development comes amid mounting signs that the grand jury is nearing the completion of its work. The district attorney’s office declined to comment on the development, which was earlier reported by Business Insider. [Major Investigations Into Donald Trump](https://time.com/6212677/donald-trump-investigations-explained/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20230202) [Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100?](https://time.com/time100-reader-poll-2023/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20230202)Vote Now Trump himself has been railing against the investigation and claiming his arrest is imminent, and law enforcement officials have accelerated security preparations in the event of unrest accompanying an unprecedented charge against a former U.S. The reason for the cancellation of Wednesday’s sessions was not immediately clear, though it comes as the grand jury has been hearing from final witnesses. When the grand jury next meets, it may hear from yet another witness, according to a person familiar with proceedings that appear to be nearing a decisive vote on whether or not

Manhattan grand jury on standby about meeting on Thursday as adjournment sparks flurry of speculation among Trump allies.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges, some connected to the payments. The grand jury, which meets in the afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, is not required to meet three times every week. On Monday, prosecutors allowed a Trump-aligned lawyer, Robert Costello, to testify before the grand jury. In recent days, Trump has been resigned to the fact that he will face criminal charges in the hush-money case, and has repeatedly insisted to advisers that he wants to be handcuffed when he makes an appearance in court, The case centers on the $130,000 Trump paid Daniels through Cohen in the final days of the 2016 election. [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump) over his role in the payment of hush money to the adult film star Stormy Daniels will not meet on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter, and is on standby about meeting on Thursday.

When it comes to Trump and justice, it's best to not get your hopes up – and he's a master at spinning a persecution narrative, says Guardian columnist Emma ...

As the story unfolds, I’m getting in early and trying to come to terms with how it may all play out: the arrest happens, Trump is arraigned and tried, there’s no conviction, and he leverages the attention to stir up his base so that we don’t see the back of him for years. In terms of the former, the mere fact of seeing his face on the news this week is a return to a place many of us don’t want to go. Accountability of any kind, no matter how small, would of course be satisfying in a way, but on the other hand, what mightn’t we give for the bliss of never hearing about this man ever again? But the [accusations against Trump](https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-potential-indictment-criminal-charges.html), which relate to his alleged payment of hush money to Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, appeared to be on the verge of triggering an arrest order from the Manhattan district attorney’s office. But it is the return of Stormy Daniels, the porn star elevated to Greek goddess of vengeance, that may deliver to the world an image many have longed to see: [Trump in cuffs](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/22/trump-wants-to-be-handcuffed-for-court-appearance-in-stormy-daniels-case-sources-say). [were ordered](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/trump-indictment-watch-all-nypd-officers-ordered-to-patrol-in-uniform-ready-for-immediate-mobilization/4167095/) to be in uniform this week and on standby for immediate deployment.

Digital World Acquisition Corp , a blank-check firm that is set to merge with former U.S. President Donald Trump's media and technology company, ...

TMTG’s fortunes are tied to Trump, who the company bills as its chief traffic driver. Meta reinstated Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts earlier this year. TMTG’s founders launched the company as a way for Trump to connect with his followers after he was cut off from major social media platforms following the Jan. In October 2021, Trump’s newly formed media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), announced a deal to go public by merging with DWAC. Challenges for both DWAC and TMTG, which operates the Truth Social app, have continued this year. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Former President Donald Trump's defense attorney Evan Corcoran is scheduled to testify Friday before the grand jury investigating classified documents found ...

The Justice Department has successfully argued in court that prosecutors have enough evidence that Trump’s interactions with the lawyer were part of a possible crime that they can pierce the confidentiality of the conversations between the two. The announcement from a panel of three judges in the appeals court – less than a day after Trump sought to put Corcoran’s testimony on hold – adds momentum to the special counsel investigation as it seeks to secure evidence that could make or break a federal criminal case against Trump. In response to the decision, a Trump spokesperson said, in part, that “there is no factual or legal basis or substance to any case against President Trump” and that “prosecutors only attack lawyers when they have no case whatsoever.”

Ex-president Donald Trump is facing possible charges over hush money paid to a porn star. Read more at straitstimes.com.

An indictment would begin a lengthy process that could last several months, if not more. [unprecedented move would send shockwaves](https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/arresting-donald-trump-would-be-a-crossroads-for-the-united-states) through the 2024 election campaign, in which Mr Trump is running to regain office. He wasn’t. [New York has been holding its breath over the expected indictment](https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/new-york-city-braces-for-trump-indictment-after-ex-president-calls-for-protests) for days, particularly after Mr Trump claimed at the weekend that he would be arrested on Tuesday. [a vote on a historic indictment of a former president was imminent.](https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/how-an-indictment-and-arrest-of-donald-trump-could-unfold) [charge ex-president Donald Trump over hush money paid to a porn star.](https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/inside-the-payoff-to-a-porn-star-that-could-lead-to-donald-trump-s-indictment)

At issue is whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence of a crime to force a lawyer for Donald J. Trump to testify to a grand jury and turn over documents ...

One of the men was Waltine Nauta, a White House aide who went to work for Mr. Among the subjects that Mr. The search yielded three classified documents in desks inside Mr. [cited the crime-fraud exception](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/us/politics/trump-lawyer-classified-documents-investigation.html) when they asked Judge Howell last month to force Mr. The litigation surrounding Mr. Corcoran that he had to give the government a trove of documents connected to the legal work he did for Mr. [appointed Jack Smith](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/us/politics/trump-special-counsel-garland.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-trump-raid&variant=show®ion=MAIN_CONTENT_1&block=storyline_top_links_recirc), a longtime prosecutor, to take over the inquiry. That suggests that Mr. Trump in the documents investigation, to answer questions before a grand jury. Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump’s handling of classified documents has prompted a pitched behind-the-scenes legal battle, with a federal appeals court poised to weigh whether prosecutors have provided sufficient evidence of a crime to force one of Mr. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a temporary stay of a decision by a lower court last week that allowed prosecutors to pierce assertions of attorney-client privilege and compel M.

Major blow to ex-president as Evan Corcoran loses legal bid to avoid giving notes and audio transcripts to investigators.

But before he complied with her order, the Trump legal team appealed the ruling, and the appeals court granted a temporary stay. But, according to court filings, the justice department developed evidence that more documents that were marked as classified remained at the resort, along with “evidence of obstruction”. ABC News reported Howell also found evidence that Trump intentionally misled or lied to his lawyers. That was after documents he returned earlier to the National Archives included 200 that were classified. [motion to compel testimony from Corcoran](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/09/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-papers-grand-jury) on a range of subjects he discussed with Trump with respect to the obstruction element of the investigation. [Mar-a-Lago](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/mar-a-lago) and produced about 30 documents with classified markings to the justice department, and had another Trump lawyer, Christina Bobb, sign a certification that attested to compliance with the subpoena “based on the information provided to me”.

NEW YORK: The drama surrounding Donald Trump's possible indictment over hush money paid to a porn star took a new twist Wednesday, after a New York grand ...

An indictment would begin a lengthy process that could last several months, if not more. Prosecutor Alvin Bragg likely wants to avoid any spectacle that could rile up Trump's base. He wasn't. Advertisement

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has stylized himself as a political brawler willing to take on all comers, from Disney and the corporate media to high school ...

To many Republican primary voters, Trump and DeSantis are viewed as politically aligned, leaving voters with a choice centered on electability and less on policy differences. In a recent CNN poll of potential GOP voters, 40% say they would most likely back Trump and 36% would vote for DeSantis. Once an outspoken proponent of arming Ukraine as a member of Congress, DeSantis recently characterized Russia’s aggression in Eastern Europe as a “territorial dispute,” aligning himself with Trump. His moves against so-called “wokeness” in society are the ripples from Trump’s 2016 gripes against political correctness. DeSantis suggested that is unlikely to change even as he and Trump appear headed for a collision course. “It gets to the point where you’re a candidate by default and you have to engage,” one DeSantis adviser told CNN. He clearly made the calculus it was time to push back.” Trump, meanwhile, has for weeks escalated attacks on DeSantis, characterizing the governor and former ally as ungrateful, disloyal and a mediocre political talent boosted by Florida’s sunshine. He went on to tout the no-nonsense management of his administration, pandemic response and 19-point victory last fall – encouraging a contrast with Trump’s chaotic four years in office that culminated with a loss to Joe Biden. Trump adviser and spokesman Jason Miller tweeted that DeSantis “has finally shown his true colors. [That changed this week](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/20/politics/desantis-trump-indictment/index.html) when DeSantis for the first time leaned into the burgeoning rivalry in earnest. DeSantis until now has mostly brushed off questions about his 2024 aspirations even as he makes moves toward a likely campaign for president.

Donald Trump's prediction that he will be arrested this week has yet to come true - but as the waiting game for criminal charges goes on, ...

His pugnacious online persona and his lack of personal discipline were targeted by Mr DeSantis in his recent swipes for a reason. It is a daunting task, and hunkered down in his Mar-a-Lago home, Mr Trump seems resigned to becoming the first US president to be indicted for a crime. Further attacks, with a metaphorical wrestling match in the mud, may only strengthen his position. He is focused on appearing defiant in any possible public appearances and ready to portray the criminal case as a de facto attack on his supporters. It's not a coincidence that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, potentially his most formidable 2024 nomination opponent, directly criticised Mr Trump for the first time this week. The former president will have at least two prime opportunities to mount his counterattack in the days ahead.