Donald Trump was “shocked” to learn Thursday that a Manhattan grand jury had decided to indict him, according to his lawyer, who believes the former president will face 34 charges when he will be handed over to Justice next week.

A jury in New York decided to indict the former president in the case of the payment of 130,000 dollars in order to buy the silence of the porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before his election victory in 2016.

Joe Tacopina noted to Fox News host Sean Hannity that he spoke with Trump, 76, after the prosecution was made public, saying both learned of the development through the media, not the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Alvin Bragg.

“He’s ready to fight. You know, he’s the toughest guy I know. He was shocked, you know, because we weren’t actually… I was shocked,” Tacopina said characteristically of Trump’s reaction to the indictment.

“I’ve never been angrier about a prosecution because today, the rule of law in the United States of America has died. Is dead. Is dead” the lawyer claimed.

Tacopina added that he believes reports that Trump will be indicted on more than 30 counts of business fraud.

“We have now heard of 34 charges, and I guarantee you that there will be 34 categories when we find out next week,” he said.

The lawyer added that Trump’s expected surrender date on Tuesday “has not been finalized.”

“We’re talking to them, you know, obviously, there’s a group called the ‘Secret Service’ that’s involved now… I mean, that’s going to be something that we’ve never had
see again”. It is the first time in US history that criminal proceedings are being brought against a former president.

When asked if Trump would be handcuffed next week, Tacopina said: “No”.

“This will backfire. Because we will win this case. You will humiliate themwith and they will pay the price” said Joe Tacopina.

The former US president on Thursday vehemently opposed the criminal prosecution against him by the New York justice system, which he sees as “political prosecution”, “witch hunt” and “meddling in the 2024 election”.