Donald Trump was accused by a Manhattan grand jury on March 30, 2023, making him the first president in American history to face criminal charges. The indictment was sealed and will be made public in the coming days. The allegations are not yet public, but individuals familiar with the situation told news media that they are tied to Trump's alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels dating back to the 2016 presidential election.
The charge is the result of a long-running investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who assumed office in January 2023 after defeating Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the inquiry in 2018. Bragg's office has been investigating whether Trump and his allies violated state laws by falsifying company records, committing tax fraud, and other financial crimes. Bragg's office has also been helping with the federal inquiry regarding Trump's participation in instigating the insurgency at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The decision to accuse Trump is certain to send shockwaves across the country, pushing the American political system – which has never seen one of its ex-leaders face criminal charges, let alone while running for president again – into unknown territory. Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and referred to the probe as a "witch hunt" and a "hoax," stated in response to the indictment, alleging it was "political persecution and election interference at the greatest level in history." He also vowed to fight the charges and continue his bid for the GOP candidature in 2024.
Trump's Republican friends, as well as his GOP challengers in 2024, have blasted the Manhattan district attorney's office for the impending indictment, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has threatened to hold Bragg accountable for what he termed an "extraordinary misuse of authority." McCarthy stated on Twitter that "the American people will not tolerate this injustice" and that "the House of Representatives will hold Alvin Bragg accountable for his unparalleled misuse of power." McCarthy's remarks were echoed by other key Republicans, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who accused Bragg of "weaponizing government to harm their political opponents."
Democrats, on the other hand, have been more circumspect and controlled in their reactions to Trump's impending indictment. While some have expressed relief and happiness that Trump may finally face justice for his alleged misdeeds, others have warned that the indictment may backfire, energising Trump's base and creating sympathy for him among some voters. Other Democrats are also concerned that the indictment will divert attention away from President Joe Biden's agenda and overshadow his accomplishments in areas such as infrastructure, climate change, and health care.
Trump's indictment is likely to dominate headlines and public discourse for weeks and months to come, as additional information about the charges and evidence against him surface. It is also expected to have far-reaching consequences for the country's legal, political, and constitutional landscape, as it poses unprecedented questions regarding presidential immunity, executive privilege, separation of powers, and due process. The indictment of Trump is not just a watershed moment in American politics, but it is also a contentious and divided one that will put American democracy to the test.