Trump initially ‘shocked’ by indictment, then determined ‘we’ve to struggle now,’ lawyer says

Former President Donald Trump was initially “shocked” after he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. However now, the 2024 GOP presidential candidate is able to struggle the fees, his legal professional Joe Tacopina stated Friday. 

In an interview on NBC Information’ “In the present day,” Tacopina stated that Trump’s authorized staff had “believed the rule of regulation would prevail,” so the indictment got here as a shock. After recovering from the shock, Tacopina stated Trump is “now within the posture that he is able to struggle this.” 

“He is able to be combative on one thing that he believes is an injustice,” he added.

In an unprecedented and historic growth, Trump is the primary former president in American historical past to be charged with against the law. The grand jury indictment is beneath seal, however two regulation enforcement sources informed Fox Information that the fees can be filed. 

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Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg has been investigating Trump’s alleged involvement in hush cash funds to grownup movie actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, to maintain her quiet forward of that yr’s presidential election over her claims she had sexual encounters years earlier with Trump. The previous president denies sleeping with Daniels and denies falsifying enterprise information to maintain the fee hid.

Bragg has additionally been investigating a $150,000 fee made to former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal.

On “In the present day,” Tacopina clarified that these funds for “authorized companies” have been “inner enterprise information” that weren’t filed with the Inner Income Service (IRS) or Federal Election Fee (FEC). 

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“This was a private decision for a private matter that will have been made regardless of the marketing campaign,” Tacopina insisted. “So, with these information collectively, there isn’t a crime.” 

He added there may be “zero” probability Trump will take a plea deal if the case proceeds to trial, and raised doubts that the case will even make it to trial given “substantial authorized challenges that we’ve to confront earlier than we get to that time.” 

Tacopina made related feedback about Trump on Fox Information’ “Hannity” Thursday night time. 

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“He is able to struggle. , he is the hardest man I do know. And he is — he was shocked, you recognize, as a result of we actually have been — I used to be shocked. I imply, I’ve by no means been indignant. My 32 years on this enterprise, each as a prosecutor and protection legal professional, I’ve by no means been extra indignant a few cost as a result of at this time the rule of regulation in the US of America died,” the legal professional stated. 

“It is useless,” Fox Information Host Sean Hannity remarked.

“It is useless,” Tacopina agreed. “And it is one thing that I by no means thought I might see. I’ve goosebumps even saying it as a result of I do not be ok with saying it. , whenever you stretched the regulation to get somebody you do not like or is a political opponent on this case, it’s extremely exhausting to ever get that regulation to come back again to its authentic form.” 

Fox Information’ Paul Steinhauser and Andrew Murray contributed to this report.

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