OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz revealed on Thursday night that he had spoken with Donald Trump after news came down that the former president had been indicted.
During an interview on Fox News, Gaetz and host Laura Ingraham spoke about Trump being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. The case involves Trump’s alleged role in hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, allegedly to keep Daniels quiet about an affair the two of them had in 2006.
“Remember Soros gave Alvin Bragg a million dollars. We’re used to seeing these things. Government printing money till it goes out of style in third world countries and that’s being visited in the United States of America. I spoke with President Trump moments ago and he’s resolute and concerned about what this does to America’s brand around the world,” Gaetz said.
“We don’t want to resolve differences through violence but the Chinese communist party can pay every grifter but Donald Trump can’t pay Stormy Daniels without a legal dispute. There’s a legal element that’s not met by any evidence. They would have to prove that Donald Trump would have no reason other than the election to try to resolve this issue with Stormy Daniels privately and outside of the public sphere. I think a motion to dismiss will happen next,” Gaetz added.
“If this were ever to be tried, you could not do it in Manhattan. You would see a change of venue in upstate New York. Maybe it’s the only place Donald Trump could get a fair trial. I expect this will be resolved well before that by any court that looks at the way that the law is being tortured in the absence of any charge that would be maintainable against any human being on the Planet Earth other than Donald Trump and against Trump it’s clearly political,” he concluded.
WATCH:
I spoke with President Donald Trump moments ago. He is resolute and focused.
He is also concerned about what this politically-motivated indictment will do to America's brand around the world.
We will wake up in a very different America tomorrow because we can no longer have… pic.twitter.com/XBXTNpW3TE
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 31, 2023
A separate report late on Thursday revealed that all officers with the NYPD have been instructed to show up Friday morning in “full uniform” following a Manhattan grand jury’s indictment of Trump.
The department has instructed its detectives to wear their full uniform, even those who typically dress in plain clothes, as the city prepares for potential unrest. Additionally, more law enforcement officers will patrol all five boroughs of the city, although there have been no credible threats reported, the Washington Examiner noted.
“The department remains ready and available to respond to protests and counter-protests,” NYPD said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, adding that the department will be working with state and federal authorities regarding safety protocols.
Conversations between the NYPD and the FBI have centered on the likelihood that a criminal indictment against Trump could heighten risks to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team, as reported by CNN. Additional subjects encompassed courthouse safety and the prospect of demonstrations near the courthouse. A barrier had been previously set up around the New York courthouse where a grand jury devoted months to hearing testimonies related to the Daniels inquiry.
“The police department said it will respect the public’s First Amendment rights but won’t tolerate property damage or violence,” the Examiner added.
“The break would push any indictment of the former president to late April at the earliest, although it is possible that the grand jury’s schedule could change. In recent weeks, the Manhattan district attorney’s office hasn’t convened the panel on certain days. But it is District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prerogative to ask the grand jury to reconvene if prosecutors want the panel to meet during previously planned breaks,” Politico reported earlier in the week.
“The grand jury, which heard testimony in the Trump case on Monday, isn’t meeting Wednesday and is expected to examine evidence in a separate matter Thursday, the person said. The grand jury, which typically meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, is scheduled to consider another case next week on Monday and Wednesday, the person said, and isn’t expected to meet Thursday due to the Passover holiday,” the outlet added.
