Donald Trump, a former president of the United States, has threatened “potential death and destruction” if he faces charges in connection with a 2016 hush money payment his personal attorney made to a porn star in New York.
Nearly a week after saying he would be detained in connection with the case and urging his fans to demonstrate, Trump made the remark on Friday.
“What kind of person can charge another person with a crime when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, and also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country? In this case, the former President of the United States, who received more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by a long shot!) for the Republican Party nomination.” On Friday, Trump posted to his Truth Social website.
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney in charge of the probe, has received numerous reprimands from the former president, who is vying for the presidency once more in 2024.
A split image with a picture of Bragg on one side and a picture of the former president holding a baseball bat on the other appeared in a story that Trump posted hours earlier.
More than two years after a mob of Trump fans stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, the former president’s bellicose rhetoric and calls for protests have rekindled fears of political violence.
Law enforcement sources were quoted by NBC News as saying on Friday that Bragg’s office received a letter with white powder and a threatening note. It said, “ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!,” according to NBC.
A spokesperson for Alvin’s office was subsequently quoted by US media outlets as saying that the letter was quickly contained and law enforcement officials found “no dangerous substance.”
Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu posted on Twitter on Friday, “If you still support Donald Trump, you are supporting an individual who has called for chaos and violence, and continues to call for chaos and violence.”
Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic Party in the House, also referred to Trump’s comments as “reprehensible” and “disgusting.”
According to Jeffries, who spoke to reporters, “It’s dangerous, and if he keeps doing it, he’s going to kill someone.”
Bragg, an elected Democrat, refuted claims that the probe is politically motivated in a letter to prominent Republican members of the House of Representatives on Thursday. He emphasised that he is performing his legal obligations as a prosecutor.
The New York case centres on a payment Michael Cohen, Trump’s then-attorney, made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Cohen claimed to have paid Daniels on Trump’s instructions, and Daniels claimed to have had an affair with the married Trump.
Insisting that he did nothing wrong, the former president denied the affair and claimed that the payment was made to shield his image from an unfounded charge.
This week, a grand jury has been gathering behind closed doors to decide whether to charge Trump.
According to a number of US media outlets, the potential charges are associated with the manner Trump compensated Cohen. He mislabeled the payments as legal costs, according to the prosecution, which could result in charges of falsifying business records.
Trump has been defended by a number of well-known Republicans, who have echoed his allegations of Bragg’s political interference. Even so, the majority have disregarded or disregarded Trump’s calls for demonstrations.
This week, Trump ally and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said, “We want calmness out there.”
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said on Monday that he was “not aware” of any particular threats connected to Trump’s comments.
As you would expect, especially in light of what occurred on January 6, Kirby told reporters, “We’re constantly monitoring this.”
On Saturday, Trump will host a campaign event in Waco, Texas. The celebration will take place on the same day as the 30th anniversary of the bloody standoff between federal law enforcement and the religious cult Branch Davidians, which resulted in the deaths of four US officers and 80 members of the group.
The incident became a significant grievance for far-right and anti-government organisations.
The Trump campaign denied any connection between the gathering and the anniversary of the violence, telling US media that Waco was picked because of its strategic position in Texas.
Trump is under federal investigation for his involvement in the assault on the US Capitol on January 6 as well as his potential handling of classified documents, in addition to the New York case.
The state of Georgia is also looking into Trump’s attempts to void the outcome of the 2020 election.
All of the instances have been dismissed by Trump as being politically motivated, and he has denied any wrongdoing.
