Donald Trump warns of 'potential death & destruction' if he is charged in hush-money case

Former president Donald Trump warned early Friday of "potential death & destruction" if he is charged in Manhattan in a criminal case related to alleged hush-money payments to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an affair.

The post-midnight posting on Truth Social, Trump's social media platform, was his latest - and most explicit - allusion to violence that could follow an indictment stemming from an investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), whom Trump called a "degenerate psychopath."

Trump wrote: "What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?"

In a separate post Thursday, Trump criticized those who have called for his supporters to remain peaceful. Over the weekend, Trump urged a "PROTEST" over his potential arrest in the case, which he wrongly predicted would happen Tuesday.

The messages have all had echoes of the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a violent pro-Trump mob. Trump had urged his followers to assemble in Washington that day, saying "Be there, will be wild!" as he pushed to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's win.

Five people died in the attack or in its aftermath, and 140 police officers were injured in the assault. The House impeached Trump on a charge of inciting an insurrection; the Senate acquitted him.

Trump has been commenting frequently on the hush-money case as a Manhattan grand jury weighs evidence against him. The panel is not scheduled to meet again until at least Monday, according to people familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss proceedings that are secret.

Prosecutors from Bragg's office have been presenting grand jurors with evidence related to hush-money payments to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The payments were aimed at keeping her from airing her claim that she had a sexual relationship with Trump years earlier.

Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 by Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer. Trump reimbursed him after becoming president, in installments that were designated as legal fees.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has slammed Bragg's investigation, but he said supporters of Trump should not protest if the former president is indicted.

"Nobody should harm one another," McCarthy said Sunday, following Trump's call for protests. "We want calmness out there."