Trump lawyers blast indictment as ‘political persecution’
The Hindu
Donald Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court will make history as the first time a President or former President has faced criminal charges
Donald Trump’s lawyers came out swinging on Sunday, lambasting the former President’s indictment as “political persecution” ahead of his court appearance next week.
Attorney Joe Tacopina dismissed the anticipated charges against Mr. Trump — related to a hush-money payment to an adult film star in 2016 — as “some twilight zone sort of scenario” in an “upside down world.”
“This is a case of political persecution,” he said on CNN.
Mr. Tacopina also blasted likely key witness Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who was jailed on related charges and turned against his former boss, as “a pathological, convicted liar.”
Mr. Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court will make history as the first time a President or former President has faced criminal charges.
But the indictment remains under seal, and even the circumstances of Mr. Trump’s appearance in New York remain unclear.
Mr. Tacopina did say that he does not expect to move for an immediate dismissal, saying the Trump team has yet to be able to study the exact charges.
With a new government in place in Delhi, Singapore hopes to schedule the Ministerial Roundtable with India shortly, says Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. In an exclusive interview, he speaks about the impact of the elections on ties, the “missed opportunity” of RCEP and the new buzz around Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati.