The Daily Retina
AMERICAN politics could enter a new dangerous era if former president Donald Trump is arrested, an expert has warned.
Moe Vela, who served as an advisor to Joe Biden during the Obama administration, told The U.S. Sun that he believes Trump’s supporters will be “emboldened” if he is indicted.
Former president Donald Trump has called on his supporters to protest amid reports that he could be arrested[/caption]
Experts have warned that security services need to be ‘vigilant’ to the risk of potential political violence[/caption]
Trump is being investigated over an alleged hush money payment that was made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
In 2018, Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen told prosecutors that he paid Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 presidential election.
The money was reportedly used to silence Daniels’ claims that she had an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump has vehemently denied having an affair with Daniels.
Prosecutors are investigating whether the payment violated campaign finance law.
If Trump is charged, he would be the first former president to face prosecution.
The brash tycoon took to Truth Social to say he expects to be arrested and called on his fans to protest.
Vela told The U.S. Sun that Trump’s base will be “emboldened” if he’s arrested.
He said: “Trump has already called for protests. That’s consistent with his playbook.
“Trump will do anything to deflect from the reality of his alleged egregious behavior.
“It has been his playbook since he came down the escalator [in June 2015].”
Vela added: “His followers will be empowered, but it could be a very serious dangerous time in our country.”
He admitted that he had “concerns” about potential political violence when asked if he thought Trump’s fans could take to the streets to protest any decision.
Political consultant Rick Wilson, who founded the Lincoln Project, told The U.S. Sun that he would urge the Manhattan District Attorney “to take all the [security] precautions necessary.”
And, Thomas Gift, a US politics expert at University College London, warned that security services need to be vigilant amid the risk of potential violence.
He said: “The security threat is there. Donald Trump’s language on Truth Social didn’t do anything to dampen that down.”
US Capitol Police wouldn’t disclose any details regarding potential security plans when approached by The U.S. Sun.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung has claimed that the former president has done “nothing wrong” and is “completely innocent.”
SUPPORTERS EMPOWERED
And, he claimed the probe will “backfire massively” for the Democrats.
Trump is set to hold the first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas on March 25.
Top pollster Frank Luntz told The U.S. Sun that the former president will see an initial boost among Republicans if he is indicted.
And, Gift said that Trump “thrives” on framing the narrative to make it look like he has been “selectively targeted” by the Democrats.
He said: “Politically, I think this [the potential indictment] plays into Trump’s hands.
“He’s framing it as just another witch-hunt, a political vendetta, an effort by the political class to shut up the most likely Republican nominee for president in 2024.
“It will absolutely embolden his supporters and it will galvanize the most strident wing of the Republican Party.”
Former vice president Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are among leading Republicans that have criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
DeSantis told reporters on Monday: “I have no interest in getting involved in some manufactured circus by some Soros-DA.
“He’s trying to do a political spectacle. He’s trying to virtue signal for his base. I’ve got real issues I got to deal with in the state of Florida.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen but I do know this: the Manhattan district attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor.”
There is no evidence that Bragg is funded by the billionaire Soros. Soros is not involved in the case.
‘PLAYS INTO HIS HANDS’
Pence said he was taken “aback” at the thought of indicting a former US president.
He told ABC News: “The fact that the Manhattan DA thinks that indicting President Trump is his top priority, I think it just tells you everything you need to know about the radical left in this country.”
Pence also believes that any protests should be “peaceful” if they materialize.
He said: “The violence that occurred on January 6, throughout this country in the summer of 2020, was a disgrace.
“The American people won’t tolerate it and those that engage in that kind of violence should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Gift believes DeSantis and Pence have chosen their words carefully as they don’t want to alienate Trump’s base.
DeSantis has been widely touted as a rival to Trump in the race for the GOP nomination.
He could announce his candidacy after the Florida legislative session adjourns on May 5.
Pence could also announce a run for the Republican nomination in the spring.
He has constantly said that he’s “confident” Americans will have “better choices” than Trump in 2024.
Political expert Thomas Gift believes Trump’s potential indictment ‘plays into his hands’[/caption]
Source: The US Sun