Trump indicted in Stormy Daniels probe as first ex-US president to face criminal charges
On a historic and unprecedented day for America, former president Donald Trump will be arrested and arraigned at a Lower Manhattan courthouse on criminal charges relating to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Mr Trump will appear for the arraignment before Judge Juan Merchan at 2.15pm ET this afternoon, becoming the first current or former US president ever to be charged with a crime.
Reports suggest he will face 34 felony charges believed to relate to falsified business records but will not be handcuffed or put in a jail cell or have his mugshot taken.
Mr Trump responded angrily to those details being released last night, fuming on his Truth Social platform that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg should now “INDICT HIMSELF” over the “leak”.
The 45th president flew into New York on Monday aboard his Boeing 757 plane before spending the night at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
After Tuesday’s hearing, he will fly straight back to his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, to deliver a primetime address at 8.15pm ET.