Former President Donald Trump made history today after a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict him after hearing evidence about hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The $130,000 payment was allegedly paid to Daniels to prevent her from publicizing an alleged sexual encounter between them.
The indictment marks the first time in American history that a current or former president will face criminal charges.
Following the announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to condemn the charges.
“This is a Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history,” he wrote. “From the time I came down the golden escalator in Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats — the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country — have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement.”
Trump’s attorney said he likely would be arraigned next week. The indictment has been filed under seal, so the charges are not publicly known at this time. The information is expected to be made public in the days following.
There is now heavy speculation about what will come of Trump’s political dreams as he is seeking to return to the White House in 2024. Just yesterday, it was announced that Donald Trump expanded his lead in the Republican primary race.
The former president has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing. His attorneys have vowed to fight the charges.
“President Trump has been indicted,” attorneys Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina wrote in a statement via Rolling Stone. “He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously defend this political prosecution in Court.”
Social media users have taken to Twitter to react to the news:
