Manhattan Prosecutors Again Consider a Path Toward Charging Trump

[douglas9]

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has moved to jump-start its criminal investigation into Donald J. Trump, according to people with knowledge of the matter, seeking to breathe new life into an inquiry that once seemed to have reached a dead end.

Under the new district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, the prosecutors have returned to the long-running investigation's original focus: a hush-money payment to a porn star who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump.

The district attorney’s office first examined the payment to the actress, Stormy Daniels, years ago before changing direction to scrutinize Mr. Trump’s broader business practices. But Mr. Bragg and some of his deputies have recently indicated to associates, supporters and at least one lawyer involved in the matter that they are newly optimistic about building a case against Mr. Trump, the people said.

The renewed scrutiny of the hush money comes amid an intensifying swirl of legal and political drama around Mr. Trump. On Friday, Merrick B. Garland, the U.S. attorney general, appointed a special prosecutor who vowed to proceed quickly with two federal investigations into the former president. It is unclear whether Mr. Bragg or the special counsel will ultimately seek charges against Mr. Trump, who just announced a third presidential run.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/nyregion/trump-bragg-stormy-daniels.html

[woodsprite]

1. Narrowing it down to the Stormy Daniels payment

Isn’t that small fish compared to everything else? Is this Bragg trying to get in a few news cycles and stay relevant? Is there any way this could backfire and help trump in his goal to delay, delay, delay, throwing a monkey wrench into other cases?

Just my thoughts at first glance.