Six months after losing the 2020 election, Donald Trump is facing what can only be described as a rip-roaringly hilarious number of legal issues, an official designation law scholars tell us only applies to the history’s foremost accused crooks. He’s been sued 29 times and counting. He’s the subject of at least three criminal investigations. His personal attorney’s apartment and office were raided last month, and his ex-personal lawyer has predicted the guy will “absolutely” turn on Trump to avoid a lengthy sentence. Thanks to his last attorney general, the Biden Justice Department could charge him with obstructing the Mueller investigation.
But the most pressing issue is obviously the criminal investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who, among other things, has Trump’s tax returns in his hands; a trove of documents that could be used to get his longtime CFO to flip; the expertise of an outside forensic accounting firm; and Mark Pomerantz, a veteran prosecutor known for helping put white-collar criminals behind bars, including ones connected to the mob. Earlier this week, former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara told Slate that he sees a “decent likelihood” of Trump being charged and according to a new report, local Florida officials do too.
Per Politico:
Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., have actively prepared for the possibility that Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance could indict former President Donald Trump while he’s at Mar-a-Lago, according to two high-ranking county officials involved in planning sessions. Among the topics discussed in those meetings: how to handle the thorny extradition issues that could arise if an indictment moves forward.
An obscure clause in Florida’s statute on interstate extradition gives Gov. Ron DeSantis the ability to intervene and even investigate whether an indicted “person ought to be surrendered” to law enforcement officials from another state—which means that as Mar-a-Lago prepares to close down for the season and Trump relocates to Bedminster, N.J., it isn’t just the Florida heat he’s leaving behind: He could lose a key piece of political protection.
“The statute leaves room for interpretation that the governor has the power to order a review and potentially not comply with the extradition notice,” Joe Abruzzo, Palm Beach County’s Circuit Court clerk, told Politico. (Abruzzo would be the person in charge of opening a potential “fugitive-at-large case” against Trump, should one be necessary.)