In a historic move, a Manhattan jury has unanimously voted to indict former President Donald Trump, making him the first former president in history to face criminal charges. The exact nature of the charges is still unknown at this time.
The indictment appears to be related to allegations that Trump provided $130,000 in hush money to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels through his disgraced former lawyer Michael Cohen just days before the 2016 presidential election. Federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York decided not to charge Trump over this payment back in 2019 despite Cohen's testimony.
However, newly elected district attorney Alvin Bragg - whose campaign was funded by billionaire far-left extremist donor George Soros - has opted to revive the case against Trump and bring charges against him. This decision is likely to fuel accusations from conservatives that Bragg is politically motivated and biased against Republicans.
Reacting with shock and disbelief at news of his indictment, Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina said that he and his client were discussing it with the Secret Service. Tacopina also confirmed that they plan to fight what they consider a politically motivated prosecution in court.
This unprecedented development could have significant implications for both current GOP presidential candidates like Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley as well as potential contenders like Mike Pence who are weighing their options ahead of 2024.
It remains unclear how this latest legal challenge will affect Trump's political fortunes going forward or whether he will run for president again in 2024 while facing these charges or even a conviction. However, it seems certain that any criminal proceedings against him will only intensify public scrutiny on his actions during his time as US President.