STATEMENT: Charges Against Trump Must Be Pursued Without Violence or Intimidation

Washington, D.C. — Today, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg issued a criminal indictment against former President Donald Trump for concealing a hush money payment before the 2016 election. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

No one is above the law, not even an ex-president. Now the legal process should play out in court without political interference. Trump’s efforts to intimidate prosecutors and call on an angry mob of supporters is yet another disgusting effort to incite violence and prevent the legal system from taking its course. There are several other serious investigations underway into Trump’s apparent attempt to overturn the election results in Georgia and his actions to incite an insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. If these investigations lead to criminal charges, it’s paramount to let prosecutors, judges, and juries do their jobs and keep politics out of the courtroom.

For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org.