Trump’s lawyer admits ex-president was ‘shocked’ to be indicted on ’30 counts of fraud’ after finding out thanks to New York Times breaking news alert
- It comes as a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict the former US president
- Donald Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina spoke of his ‘anger’ following the indictment
Donald Trump was ‘shocked’ to discover that a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict him, according to the former president’s attorney.
Speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, Joe Tacopina clarified that he and Trump, 76, heard about the indictment through media reports alone.
‘He’s ready to fight. You know, he’s the toughest guy I know. He was shocked, you know, because we really weren’t – I was shocked,’ Tacopina said of Trump’s reaction to the indictment.
‘I’ve never been more angry about a charge because today, the rule of law in the United States of America died. It’s dead. It’s dead,’ Tacopina said.
It comes as Trump is expected to appear in court this Tuesday after being indicted by a grand jury on Thursday following alleged ‘hush money’ payments made ahead of the 2016 elections.
Donald Trump was ‘shocked’ to discover that a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict him
Joe Tacopina clarified that he and Trump, 76, heard about the indictment through media reports alone
The attorney added that Trump’s expected Tuesday arraignment is ‘not finalized.’
‘We are discussing with them, you know, obviously, there’s a group called the Secret Service that’s involved now. I mean, this is going to be something we’ve never seen the likes of,’ Tacopina said.
It marks the first ever criminal case against a former president in US history.
Sources told the New York Post that the sealed indictment was filed with the clerk’s office in Manhattan supreme court in Lower Manhattan on Thursday evening.
The specific charges were not made public, but the sources said Trump is facing over two dozen counts related to business fraud.
Citing two sources, CNN reported Trump is facing over 30 counts connected to business fraud.
‘This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history,’ Trump said in a statement Tuesday.
It follows from alleged ‘hush money’ payments made ahead of the 2016 elections
His attorneys, Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina, told The Post that Trump ‘did not commit any crime’ and vowed to ‘vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.’
It comes as he attempts to regain the White House for a third time in the 2024 Republican nomination.
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