Whit Johnson (00:00):
… to the indictment of Former President, Donald Trump. He’s due in New York City on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s expected court appearance. ABC’s Rachel Scott is at Mar-a-Lago in Florida with the very latest. Rachel, good morning.
Rachel Scott (00:13):
Whit, good morning to you. And we are learning more about how many charges Donald Trump could face from this indictment, as the Former President prepares to turn himself in, in just a matter of days.
(00:23)
This morning, new details in the unprecedented indictment of Former President, Donald Trump. Sources tell ABC Trump has been charged with around two dozen counts, including felonies. The exact charges are still unknown, remaining under a seal until Trump is arraigned in court. Sources say that’s expected to happen Tuesday when the Former President turns himself in to authorities, his attorney already promising a fight.
Joe Tacopina (00:47):
We’ll proceed to see a judge at some point, plead not guilty, start talking about filing motions, which we will do immediately and very aggressively.
Rachel Scott (00:57):
That indictment by the Manhattan grand jury, stemming from an alleged $130,000 hush money payment before the 2016 election, after an alleged affair with porn star, Stormy Daniels, and prosecutors saying there is more. The District Attorney also digging into a $150,000 payment to another woman, Playboy model, Karen McDougal.
Karen McDougal (01:17):
There was a real relationship there. There were real feelings between the two of us.
Rachel Scott (01:21):
McDougal claims she was paid-off before the election to cover up an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006, the Former President denying both affairs ever happened; and Republicans are lining up to defend him, including his rivals.
Nikki Haley (01:35):
When you get into political prosecutions like this, it’s more about revenge than it is about justice.
Asa Hutchinson (01:43):
It’s a sad day for America this has happened.
Mike Pence (01:45):
The unprecedented indictment of a Former President of the United States on a campaign finance issue is an outrage.
Rachel Scott (01:54):
As for President Biden, so far he’s refusing to comment at all.
President Joe Biden (01:59):
No, I’m not going to talk about Trump’s indictment.
Rachel Scott (02:03):
In the 24 hours following the news of the indictment, the Trump campaign says they raised $4 million. Sources tell us that after the Former President is expected to be arraigned in New York, he will then travel back here to Florida and continue his campaign for President.
(02:17)
Whit.
Whit Johnson (02:17):
All right, Rachel. Thank you.