Trump insiders say indictments offer little legal threat and will make former president STRONGER

Trump insiders on Monday said they believed the former president had a strong defense to beat out any charges coming a New York grand jury, saying it would be very hard to prove that he paid an adult movie star to keep quiet about an affair in order to improve his chances of being elected president.

After all, said one Trump world figure, Trump's busy sex life was no secret and had been the stuff of frontpage headlines in New York for decades.

While Trump has huddled with advisers working out the best way to deal with impending charges, insiders offered an optimistic outlook.

They said they believed the legal action would only strengthen his position with the party base, particularly after his likely 2024 Republican rival Ron DeSantis had bungled his response.

As if to prove the point, DailyMail.com has heard from multiple Republican supporters who said that having distanced themselves from Trump after the Jan 6. attack they were now ready to march in his defense. 

Trump insiders shrugged off the threat of indictment on Monday, saying the legal case was weak and that it had made the former president stronger, particularly as they said Ron DeSantis had missed the mood of Republican primary voters 

A grand jury in New York was hearing from witnesses on Monday in the investigation into 2016 hush money payments to adult movie star Stormy Daniels, 44

'It is very obvious that this is helpful,' said one former adviser.

A grand jury in New York was hearing from witnesses on Monday in the investigation into 2016 hush money payments to adult movie star Stormy Daniels, 44.

Trump himself at the weekend offered the clearest indication yet that it would hand down charges, when he claimed he was preparing to be arrested on Saturday.

Since then supporters have rallied to his defense, accusing the Manhattan district attorney's office of pursuing a purely political case.

The grand jury has reportedly heard evidence that the Trump Organization misstated the $130,000 payment to Daniels as a legal expense, which is normally considered to be a misdemeanor under New York law.

That could rise to the more serious category of a felony if it can be proved to have hidden a more serious crime, such as wire fraud or a campaign finance offense.

Trump's lawyers believe there is little chance of that. 

'Of course no one wants to be indicted, but it is helpful politically and legally it's not even that much of a threat because the case is so weak and looks nakedly political,' said a member of Trump's inner circle. 

'To get their business wire fraud charge, which they are elevating to a felony, they first have to prove that it was a campaign finance violation, because the purpose of concealing was to help his campaign.

'The reality is, what the f- are you guys talking about?

'Does anyone really think Trump concealed this for the campaign when for 20 years his affairs have been the front page of the New York Post?'

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been accused of a liberal witch hunt

Trump used a social media post on Saturday to call on his supporters to protest as he claimed he expects to be arrested as early as Tuesday. Aides say they do not know the timing

Trump's allies also criticized DeSantis for taking two days to respond to the legal twist, and then playing down the impending indictments.

'I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,' the Florida governor told reporters.

He went on to criticize Alvin Bragg — the Manhattan district attorney, but then said he had more important things to worry about.

'I've got real issues I got to deal with here in the state of Florida,' he said.

'We've got so many things pending in front of the legislature. I've got to spend my time on issues that actually matter to people. 

'I can't spend my time worrying about things of that nature.'

New York Police Department staff install barricades around the Lower Manhattan court complex ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment

The New York Young Republicans Club is holding a protest on Monday evening. 'Join us in peaceful protest of Alvin Bragg's heinous attack on President Donald J. Trump ... ' it says

He said it was a 'manufactured circus.' 

Trump supporters blasted his stance publicly and privately, saying he had misread the mood.

The former president's eldest son expressed his amazement on Twitter.  

'So DeSantis thinks that Dems weaponizing the law to indict President Trump is a "manufactured circus" & isn't a "real issue,' he wrote on Twitter.

'Pure weakness. 

'Now we know why he was silent all weekend. He's totally owned by Karl Rove, Paul Ryan and his billionaire donors. 100 percent Controlled Opposition.'

A former adviser familiar with thinking inside Trump's circle said DeSantis had badly miscalculated.

'We have seen Republican after Republican — even those who had fallen out of love with Trump — saying they are ready to get out in the streets to defend him,' he said. 

'DeSantis could have nailed his colors to the mast on Saturday.

'It took him two days to work out his line, and then he completely blew it.' 

Another source said: 'Talk about a gigantic misread of Republican primary voters who pretty much all think this is the most important issue.'