Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has raised over $800,000 in campaign donations since indicting former President Donald Trump on charges related to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The majority of these donations came from New York State, with only one of his 20 largest contributions being from out-of-state. Trump became the first U.S. president to be indicted on March 30, 2023, with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The trial is set to begin soon, with jury selection starting on Monday.
Despite Trump’s attempts to delay the trial, including asking for a reversal of a gag order, the appeals court has denied his efforts. Judge Juan Merchan had imposed the gag order to prevent Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, and family members involved in the case. Trump has continued to criticize the judge and has called for his recusal from the case. Bragg has urged the judge to reject this request, labeling it as a last-ditch effort to delay the trial.
Bragg’s investigation into Trump began after he was elected as Manhattan’s first Black district attorney in 2021. His predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., did not bring charges against Trump before leaving office. Several prosecutors resigned from the case shortly after Bragg took office, citing their disagreement with his decision not to charge Trump early on. Bragg defended his actions, stating that the case against Trump was not ready at that time. Bragg is up for re-election next year, with his current term ending on January 1, 2026.
Following the Manhattan indictment, Trump has been indicted three more times, twice in federal court and once in Fulton County, Georgia. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Despite facing legal challenges, Trump remains active in politics, using his platform to criticize the legal process and those involved in his case. The trial is a highly anticipated event, with both prosecutors and the defense gearing up for the proceedings to begin. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Trump’s future and his standing in the political landscape.
