Trump is winning Meek Mill over these days. It won’t take more than a Google search to uncover all of Meek’s opinions toward the former president over the years. However, he’s given Trump his dues when needed. Donald’s support during A$AP Rocky’s arrest in Sweden earned praise from the Philadelphia rapper but prior to that, Meek also helped lead anti-Trump protests ahead of the 2016 election. Overall, it seems like Meek’s disdain for the former president isn’t as strong as it once was.
The former president and the Dream Chasers head honcho apparently share attorneys. Trump is currently facing 34 felony counts related to business fraud with Joe Tacopina leading the defense. Tacopino, however, has strong ties to the hip-hop community at large. He previously represented Meek and helped him overturn his 2008 gun and drug conviction, which, in turn, helped the rapper’ launch his efforts for criminal justice reform. Needless to say, Tacopina has a high success rate in the courtroom, which Meek believes will help Trump these days.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump appeared in court where he pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts against him. As pictures and videos of Trump’s presence in New York City began to circulate, Meek seemed shocked that he and the former president shared the same attorney. The rapper shared a photo of Trump in court along with a caption that read, “Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts in his indictment.” In response, Meek said, “Trump graduated to the streets…sharing criminal lawyers [with us]…Joe Tactical.”
Shortly after Trump’s indictment, Tacopina spoke to Today where he expressed confidence in the case. He said that the case will likely be dismissed before it heads to court when asked if they would have a fair jury. “I feel that we’re not going to get to a jury,” he said. “I think this case is going to fall on its merits on legal challenges well before we get to a jury.” Still, he didn’t comment on whether or not they would have a fair jury if the case moves forward. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates regarding Trump’s indictment. Check out Meek Mill’s comments above.
Searches for Stormy Daniels on Pornhub are skyrocketing following the recent indictment of Donald Trump. According to TMZ, there’s been a 32,000% increase in the porn star’s typical daily average for searches as compared to her average daily searches since January. As of last Wednesday, there were about 34,500 searches for Daniels, whereas this week, there were 630,000 searches.
Daniels recently thanked her fans for their support on Twitter amid Trump’s ongoing legal battle. “Thank you to everyone for your support and love!” she wrote. “I have so many messages coming in that I can’t respond…also don’t want to spill my champagne #Teamstormy merch/autograph orders are pouring in, too! Thank you for that as well but allow a few extra days for shipment.”
Donald Trump Arriving In Court
NEW YORK, NY – April 4: Former President Donald Trump arrives for his court appearance in New York, NY on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Trump became the first sitting or former U.S. president to be indicted and turned himself to be arraigned in a case that involves payoffs through an intermediary to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. (Photo by Jabin Botsford for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Trump appeared in court in New York City on Tuesday, before flying back to Mar-a-Lago that same night. There, he delivered a speech condemning the case against him as well as the Manhattan district attorney. “They can’t beat us at the ballot box, so they try to beat us through the law,” Trump said. From there, he added: “The only crime that I’ve committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. The criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information, for which he should be prosecuted — or at a minimum, he should resign.”
The case against Trump hinges on payments to Daniels that allegedly violate federal campaign finance laws. In total, Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, has admitted to paying $130,000 in 2016 to silence Daniels’ story about an alleged affair with the former president.
Donald Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to be charged with a crime. He arrived in New York on Monday (April 3) to appear in court on Tuesday, following his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury last week. A former president’s expected voluntary surrender will be a unique event in multiple ways. Earlier this week, one of Trump’s advisers described the MAGA leader’s mood as “defiant and focused” as he watched the coverage on a flight from Florida to New York. However, CNN reported that the former president has stayed “surprisingly calm.”
Additionally, Trump reportedly spent the weekend in Florida playing golf and thinking about using the indictment to help his campaign. The indictment was said to have caught him and his advisers “off guard.” Further, CNN reported that Trump faces more than 30 counts linked to corporate fraud, but the charges remain sealed. Since the 2016 presidential election, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has investigated the former president for his alleged role in a hush-money scheme. Here is what we know about the indictment.
Why Is Donald Trump Facing Charges?
TOPSHOT – Former US President Donald Trump makes his way inside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York on April 4, 2023. – Donald Trump will make an unprecedented appearance before a New York judge on April 4, 2023 to answer criminal charges that threaten to throw the 2024 White House race into turmoil. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s indictment reportedly included 34 first-degree felony counts of falsifying company records. Technically, the allegations derive from a payment made to Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. This incident occurred when she attempted to sell her story regarding an affair with Trump. Daniels’s representatives initially approached The National Enquirer to offer exclusive rights to her story. However, David Pecker, the tabloid publisher and a longtime ally of Trump, agreed to watch for potentially damaging stories about him. At one point, he even agreed to purchase the story of another woman’s affair with Trump but never planned to publish it.
However, Pecker didn’t purchase Daniels’s story. Instead, he and the senior editor of the tabloid facilitated a separate transaction between Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, and Daniels’s counsel. Cohen reportedly paid $130,000, eventually reimbursed by Trump from the White House. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including federal campaign finance violations involving hush money. Federal prosecutors determined that the payment constituted an unlawful contribution to Trump’s campaign. Nevertheless, in the days after Mr. Cohen’s guilty plea, the D.A.’s office initiated its own criminal investigation. As federal prosecutors were investigating Cohen, the district attorney would investigate Trump.
Trump pled not guilty to 34 felony charges. The allegations result from an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who believes that Trump altered corporate documents to conceal harmful information from 2016 election voters. Judge Juan Merchan is presiding over the case, and set the next court date for December 4.
The prosecution wants the opening arguments to begin in January 2024. However, Trump’s defense has requested a few additional months, perhaps until Spring 2024. This occurs in the middle of the primary season, which could hamper the former president’s attempt for reelection. Nonetheless, the defense may make motions to delay the trial, including a request to move the venue out of Manhattan, where Trump lost the 2020 presidential election by an overwhelming margin.
The Former President’s Reactions
Former President Donald Trump defended himself before a crowd of supporters at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night after he was arraigned in New York City https://t.co/zg2iTKj5NKpic.twitter.com/5xRCnHeh6z
Trump and his supporters blasted Democrat District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the grand jury’s decision as “the greatest level of Political Persecution and Election Interference.” The former president left the courthouse in a motorcade monitored by major cable news networks using aerial footage. Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign began selling T-shirts featuring a fake mugshot for $47.
To conclude a full day of media coverage, Trump attacked the charges as political persecution at Mar-a-Lago. Trump stated, “I never imagined something like this would happen in America.” He added, “The only crime I’ve committed is boldly defending our country against those who wish to destroy it.” He downplayed the numerous investigations he is facing, stating that D.A. Bragg had “no case.” He also attacked the judge and his family as “Trump-hating” individuals.
— Yusef Abdus Salaam (@dr_yusefsalaam) April 5, 2023
A New York court confirmed that Trump’s arraignment would not be televised live. Judge Merchan denied requests from multiple media groups to broadcast Trump’s court sessions this week. However, the judge determined that five photographers may still capture Trump and the courtroom before the start of the hearing. Judge Merchan also acknowledged the historical significance of the hearing while rejecting the request to broadcast the arraignment.
“It cannot be argued that this indictment covers a topic of enormous importance,” he said. “A serving or former President of the United States has never been indicted on criminal charges. Mr. Trump’s arraignment has created unprecedented media and public interest. The populous craves the most accurate and up-to-date information available. To imply otherwise would be dishonest.”
Can Trump Still Run For President In 2024?
Certainly, the United States Constitution does not prohibit Trump from continuing his election campaign, notwithstanding his indictment. Theoretically, he could still run for president and win an election while incarcerated. Nevertheless, there are pragmatic concerns. A protracted court battle and trial will significantly disrupt a presidential campaign in terms of time, energy, and the scheduling of election rallies.
Donald Trump slammed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as well as the case against him in his first speech since his arrest and arraignment in New York City. Trump addressed a crowd of his supporters at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night after his unprecedented court appearance, in which he pled not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.
“They can’t beat us at the ballot box, so they try to beat us through the law,” Trump said. From there, he added: “The only crime that I’ve committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. The criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information, for which he should be prosecuted — or at a minimum, he should resign.”
Donald Trump Speaks At Mar-a-Lago
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – APRIL 04: Former U.S President Donald Trump makes statements at his Mar-a-Lago estate after being arraigned in New York City, on April 04, 2023, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Trump also warned that he may face further legal troubles, referencing Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis. “In the wings, they’ve got a local racist Democrat district attorney in Atlanta who is doing everything in our power to indict me over an absolutely perfect phone call — even more perfect than the one I made with the president of Ukraine,” Trump said. “Then you have a radical left lunatic, known as a bomb-thrower, who is harassing hundreds of my people day after day over the boxes hoax. This lunatic new special prosecutor named Jack Smith … others of his ilk say he’s even worse than they are.” In total, Trump spoke for under 30 minutes and appeared more tired than usual.
The case against Trump hinges on payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, which allegedly violate federal campaign finance laws. The legal trouble comes as Trump campaigns to represent the GOP in the 2024 presidential race. His supporter, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, says that the court appearance will only boost his polling numbers over rival Ron DeSantis. “Alvin Bragg is making the best case possible to Republican voters to vote for Donald Trump,” Greene said, as noted by NBC. “Alvin Bragg is also making the best case possible to independent voters to vote for Donald Trump.”
From thug life to dreams and nightmares. First, Donald Trump’s attorney Alina Habba compared her client to the late rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac (which pissed off Tupac’s sister Set Shakur). Now, news has come out that this isn’t the only connection the disgusted politician has.
In screengrabs captured by Complex, Meek Mill also shared something in common with Trump — a criminal lawyer. After news broke about the former president’s indictment, the “Going Bad” rapper took to Instagram to reveal that his former criminal defense lawyer Joe Tacopina, also known as Joe Tactical, had represented Trump.
Uploaded an image of the news clipping, Meek captioned it, “Trump graduated from the streets,” adding, “Sharing criminal lawyers with us… Joe Tactical.”
Tacopina was a member of the legal team representing Meek during his tumultuous case to overturn his sentence for violating probation from a decade-old gun and drug case in his hometown of Philadelphia. The case was highlighted in the#FreeMeek documentary. Eventually, after a hard-fought battle, Meek and his legal team came out victorious in the end.
Trump is hoping his legal team pulls out a win as well as a maximum sentence for allegedly falsifying records and conspiracy if convicted, could land him behind bars for 136 years.
Meek Mill is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Donald Trump’s attorney Alina Habba apparently wanted her client to change his inner thug life (a motto of the late raper Tupac Shakur), but it didn’t quite work out in his favor.
Although both rap pioneers did know and have been photographed with Trump, Tupac’s sister Set Shakur isn’t here for the comparisons. In a statement shared with TMZ, Shakur flat out called Habba’s remarks “blasphemous.”
“My brother was measured by his integrity, his principles, and personal and collective responsibility,” said Shakur.
While the late rapper was found guilty of sexual assault in 1995, Shakur emphasized the difference between Trump and her brother is that “[Tupac] took accountability during his 1994 sexual abuse trial,” whereas, within Trump’s recent indictment, it is reported that in 2016 Trump tried to pay his accuser off with hush money.
Shakur later added that her brother’s time in prison wasn’t what made him popular. Instead, it was the fact that people “were able to measure him by his words and actions that aligned.”
Back in 1992, Tupac called out Trump for his greedy ways during an interview with MTV, saying, “If you want to be successful, if you want to be like Trump, gimme gimme gimme, push push push push. Step, step, step, crush, crush, crush. That’s how it all is, and it’s like… nobody ever stops.”
Even from the grave, the rapper was able to hit ’em up.
Donald Trump became the first president to ever get indicted by a grand jury. Though it’s not necessarily shocking, the former president’s alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels came back to bite him in the ass. Trump faces accusations of paying Daniels hush money to keep their entanglement under wraps ahead of his presidential campaign. However, it feels like his supporters wouldn’t have necessarily held it against him if they were aware of the scandal.
Today, Trump turned himself in to authorities and appeared in front of a judge where he pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts. After his court appearance, the indictment was unsealed, revealing that he’s facing felony charges related to business fraud. Trump allegedly falsified cheque records and ledger entries in 2017 to make supposed payments to Daniels seem as though they were “legal fees.” This is because prosecutors believe Trump compensated his attorney, Michael Cohen, for the amount paid to Stormy Daniels.
Van Jones Feels Bad For Trump
Van Jones on Trump’s arrest: ‘He looks sad … I don’t like the prison system, so I don’t like this process … doesn’t mean that accountability is not owed, but that is a granddad having a very bad day.’ pic.twitter.com/exs1tw0Eec
Van Jones has faced backlash time and time again for his praise of Trump. At a time when the former president created even more divisiveness among Americans, Jones praised some of the work he did with Trump’s administration. As recently as last week, Van Jones described Trump as the “uniter-in-chief” due to his support for prison reform and the First Step Act. Even though many people dislike Trump, Van Jones clearly has a soft spot for the guy.
So, it should come as no surprise that the political commentator wasn’t necessarily happy about Trump’s indictment. During a recent interview with CNN, Jones said that he didn’t take joy in seeing Trump turning himself in. “He looks sad,” he explained. “I don’t like the prison system, so I don’t like this process … doesn’t mean that accountability is not owed. We don’t know what he’s going to be charged with but with that moment, that is not a conqueror. That is a granddad having a very bad day.” That’s certainly one way to put it. Check out Van Jones’ comments above and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Former President Donald Trump has been arrested, arraigned and is back on a plane to Mar-a-Lago. With that under his belt, opinions and fall out from the moment in American History will pour out. One of the early statements comes from Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Speaking with RSBN, Taylor Greene let off an eyebrow-raising set of comparisons for Trump:
“President Trump is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested today. Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government. There have been many people throughout history that have been arrested and persecuted by radical corrupt governments, and it’s beginning today in New York City and I just can’t believe it’s happening, but I’ll always support him. He’s done nothing.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): “Trump is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested today. Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered.” pic.twitter.com/dSOeHvRnDE
