Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, was on Friday (31 March) indicted by the Manhattan grand jury on charges related to his involvement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It is the first time in history that a US President has been charged with a crime.
The indictment stems from allegations that, in the final days of his presidential bid in 2016, Trump directed his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair she claims to have had with Trump in 2006, and that Trump falsified financial records of this transaction.
Trump is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, although the exact nature of the charges have not been released yet.
Joe Tacopina, Trump’s defense lawyer, has reported to be surprised by the timing of the indictment, while Donald Trump has called the allegations against him “a witch hunt”.
Trump's indictment raises significant questions concerning the President's conduct while in office, and about his fitness for a potential third attempt at running for president in 2024.
Some Republicans and Trump supporters have claimed that the charges are politically motivated, and that they are part of a broader effort to discredit the President and his administration in light of his wish to run in the 2024 elections. Trump has however said that the charges will not stop him from running again, however.
Others, including senior Democrats, insist that the charges are a necessary step in holding Trump accountable for his actions, and that no-one is above the law.
Trump is expected to appear at the Manhattan district attorney on Tuesday (4 April).
