Trump to face ‘subpoenas and seizures’ following presidency, ex-Manhattan prosecutor says

‘It would certainly not be pleasant for him’

An ex-Manhattan prosecutor has warned that “subpoenas and seizures” await President Donald Trump following his presidency  

Daniel R Alonso, who acted as Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s top deputy from 2010 to 2014 and is now in private practice, made the projection to The New York Times.

“There are subpoenas and seizures and documents all over the place, as well as constant meetings with lawyers,” Mr Alonso said, adding, “It would certainly not be pleasant for him.”

The comment comes as part of a report by The Times considering that Mr Trump is more vulnerable than ever to a pending grand jury investigation by Mr Vance, a Democrat, into his business and his taxes.

Mr Vance argued in September that allegations of tax and insurance fraud justify a grand jury probe into the president and his businesses.  

The investigation has been long drawn out with appeals and court hearings over the president’s tax records and financial documents having lasted for more than a year.

They have argued that “mountainous” allegations against the president “could establish crimes” including tax and insurance fraud and falsification of business records, among others.

The Times report notes that the Constitution bars lawyers from prosecuting a president while in office, but it is unknown what will happen with the case when the president departs the White House.

“He’ll never have more protection from Vance than he has right now,” said Stephen I Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas.

“Vance has been the wild card here,” Professor Vladeck added. “And there is very little that even a new administration that wants to let bygones be bygones could do formally to stop him.”

Danny Frost, a spokesman for Mr Vance, declined to comment when contacted by The Times.

The president and his legal team are currently appealing a US District Court ruling to comply with subpoenas for roughly eight years’ worth of financial statements.

Mr Biden was declared winner of the 2020 presidential election by networks and news agencies on Saturday after securing more than the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Mr Trump has yet to concede to the president-elect.

The president has spent the majority of his time following the announcement making baseless claims of voter fraud in swing states that he says cost him his victory and pursuing legal action.

Mr Trump has continually argued that the investigation is a politically motivated attack.

A lawyer for the president, Jay Sekulow, declined to comment through a spokesman when contacted by The Times.