Trump to make address from Florida after court appearance

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2023 22:09

Former US President Donald Trump is to make an address from Florida after his expected court appearance on Tuesday.

A motorcade carrying former President Donald Trump leaves Trump International Golf Club, April 2, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Florida (AP)

After an expected indictment hearing on Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump will deliver a statement from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump's campaign office said Sunday.

"President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, will deliver remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 8:15 PM EDT [00:15 GMT on Wednesday]," the office said in a statement.

The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is currently investigating Trump for a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. According to the New York Times, the investigative invitation of Trump by Bragg could mean the first-ever indictment of a former US President with a criminal charge.

Trump announced on Friday that he will appeal a grand jury indictment against him in Manhattan, claiming that the officials involved in the case are biased. The Trump indictment is becoming a symbol of a rift between the Democrats and Republicans in the US, especially in public opinion.

Axios reported earlier that Trump has the support of 37 House Republicans, including nine of the 25 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee and 11 of the 26 Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, which could significantly boost Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

The indictment is certain to cast a shadow over Trump's 2024 presidential candidacy and opens the door to several possibilities. He may have to run for President while facing a criminal trial if he enters a not-guilty plea and the matter proceeds to trial, which can take several months. However, if he were to win a second term while being sentenced to prison or already serving one, several constitutional problems would arise.

Trump affirmed that his indictment wouldn't preclude him from running for office again. At CPAC in March, when asked if he would still run in 2024 if formally accused, Trump responded, "Oh absolutely. I wouldn’t even think about leaving."

The former President could also face criminal charges for his alleged attempts to tamper with Georgia's 2020 election results, for taking classified papers from the White House (and thwarting efforts to get them back), and for his alleged participation in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.