Former US president Donald Trump has flown to New York to face booking and arraigment on charges related to 'hush money' payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 White House campaign. The businessman will be the first former president to be indicted, making this an unprecedented event.
Mr Trump is currently in the midst of his third presidential campaign to get back into the White House after losing to President Joe BIden in 2020. He is due to leave his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday, April 3, and fly to Manhattan where he will spend the night in Trump Tower before turning himself in to authorities on Tuesday, April 4.
Security measures have been put in place around Trump Tower ahead of the former president's arrival, with nearby street closures planned for his arrival and departure and measures put in place for any potential protesters to turn up. At the Manhattan Criminal Court building, floors are set to be shut down before the arraignment as part of security precautions.
Trump is facing multiple charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offense, in the indictment which was handed down by a Manhattan grand jury. The investigation is specifically looking into six-figure payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Both women have claimed to have had sexual encounters with Mr Trump, who was married at the time, years before he got into politics and threw his hat in the ring as a presedential candidate. Mr Trump has denied having sexual liaisons with either woman, and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.
He has argued the case against him is politically motivated, with supporters at recent rallies brandishing signs calling it a 'witch hunt'. He has taken to Truth Social to share his views, referring to the "Corrupt D.A.", and saying as he took off for New York: "WITCH HUNT, as our once great Country is going to HELL!"
The indictment has been filed under seal, meaning it is yet to be revealed - though Trump and his allies have taken to social media to tear into District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the grand jury's decision. He has called the indictment "political persecution", using social media in the weeks leading up to the indictment to rally about the investigation and urge supporters to protest on his behalf.
What does Donald Trump's indictment mean?
So what does it all mean, and what will happen next?
Well, the case is unprecedented. In the, roughly, 250 year history of the United States, no president, or former president has been indicted.
President Richard Nixon was named by a grand jury in 1974 as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Watergate scandal, but was never actually charged with a crime. President Bill Clinton, while not indicted, was impeached in 1998 by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice - related to a coverup of his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Donald Trump has been impeached twice; in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and in 2021 on a charge of incitement of insurrection as a result of the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
The indictment of Trump means he has formally been charged, or accused, of a serious crime. It has been reported that the former president is facing more than 30 counts related to business fraud.
His 'hush money' payment to Ms Daniels is not illegal. However, the way his lawyer, Michael Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in accounts has got Trump into some hot water. He's accused of falsifying his business records by recording the payment as legal fees.
With it happening just before voters were due to take to the polls, there is concern it could violate laws about payments that help an election campaign. There is expected to be a trial where Trump will be able to make his case, though details are not yet clear.
Can Trump still run for president?
Nothing in the US constitution prevents Trump from continuing his election campaign while dealing with the charges. In fact, the Trump Campaign has said it raised more than $4 million in the 24 hours following the announcement that he would be facing criminal charges.
In fact, nothing in the Constitution prevents anyone indicted or convicted of a crime, or even serving prison time, from running for or winning a presidential campaign.
However, if Trump wins and becomes president once more while federal charges are being litigated, they would be dropped due to the Department of Justice's refusal to prosecute a sitting president. District Attoney Alvin Bragg's stave-level charges pose a trickier situation, as they fall outside of Trump's pardon power if they were to result in a conviction.
What happens next in Donald Trump's indictment?
On Monday afternoon, April 3, Donald Trump set off from his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort to Manhattan, New York. He has said he will then hand himself in at the lower Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, April 4.
His arraignment is expected to take place at around 2pm local time on Tuesday, April 4, 7pm BST. The document containing details of the official charges against the former president will not be made public until a judge has read out the charges against him.
After debate and rumours, Trump's legal team have said he will not be handcuffed - though the possibility of a 'perp walk' is still on the table.
Once inside the courthouse, whether via the 'perp walk' or a private entrance, Trump will likely be fingerprinted and have is mugshot taken like any other defendant in a criminal case. He will also be read his 'Miranda' rights - which are read to defendants to remind them of their right to a lawyer and to not talk to police.
It's expected he will be accompanied by Secret Service agents throughout this process, as extra security is put in place. Trump will then wait in a holding cell or area until he appears before a judge.
It is likely his appearance will be an arraignment, where he will enter a plea. Release conditions are also likely to be discussed, including travel restrictions or home confinement. The former president would then likely be released ahead of another court date, though a trial could take a while to come to fruition.
