Donald Trump has made history as the first former president of the United States to be indicted for a crime. A grand jury has voted to indict him over a hush-money payment made to a porn star.
The charges against Trump involve falsifying business records after $130,000 was paid to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from publicly discussing an alleged extramarital affair with him in 2006.
In response to the news, the 76-year-old released a statement describing the Manhattan grand jury vote as “political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history.” Trump has repeatedly denied the affair and has dismissed the investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, as a witch hunt.
#DonaldTrump will become the first former president of the #USA to be charged with a crime after a grand jury voted to indict him. Police in #NewYork have been told to get ready for protesters to descend on the city on Friday.
— Share_Talk ™ (@Share_Talk) March 31, 2023
It is expected that Trump will surrender to authorities in the coming days to have his fingerprints and mugshot taken before being arraigned in court. He is likely to be released on bond.
According to multiple sources, former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for his arraignment, with Judge Juan Merchan expected to preside.
Reportedly, Trump’s legal team has not seen the sealed indictment and is unaware of the charges being brought against him.
In response to the news, the former president took to his media channel, Truth Social, and made a statement late on Thursday. He wrote, “These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President.”
