Authorities prepping for possible Trump indictment over Stormy Daniels hush money

Law enforcement agencies are strategizing on how to secure Manhattan Criminal Court should former President Donald Trump be indicted next week, NBC News reported.

Local, state and federal authorities told the network that cops and security agencies are actively planning for his possible indictment — and the reaction to it.

Three sources told The Post Wednesday that if an indictment is sought for the hush money allegedly paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, it could come down as soon as next week.

The possible counts out of Manhattan Criminal Court would make Trump the first current or former president in US history to face criminal charges.

New York prosecutors have hinted that Trump is likely to face criminal charges over the payments. Daniels met with Manhattan prosecutors for the first time Wednesday, agreeing to be a witness for District Attorney Alvin Bragg.


Photo of protesters holding an "indict trump" sign
Demonstrators hold a banner in front of Trump International in NYC’s Columbus Circle on Feb. 20, 2023, demanding the indictment of the former president.
Ryan Rahman/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

Five senior officials told NBC News that the interagency planning meetings are precautionary and do not mean Trump is guaranteed to be indicted.

The conversations are happening among the NYPD, New York State Court Officers, the Secret Service, the FBI and the Manhattan DA’s Office, the network reported.

The possible charges would stem from Trump’s onetime fixer Michael Cohen paying Daniels hush money in the last days of the 2016 presidential campaign so she wouldn’t expose her alleged affair with the then-candidate a decade earlier.

Cohen, who says he made the $130,000 payment on Trump’s behalf, pleaded guilty in 2018 to violating federal campaign finance laws in connection to the payments and is now a key witness for the prosecution.


Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023
If indicted, Trump would be the first current or former president to be criminally charged.
AP

The Manhattan DA is reportedly looking to charge Trump with falsifying business records in an illegal effort to obfuscate his reimbursement to Cohen for the payments.

Trump has repeatedly denied that he had an affair with Daniels, and said Bragg’s investigation is a “witch hunt” that amounts to “extortion.”

Bragg offered Trump the chance to appear before the grand jury and defend himself, but he declined.