Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury for political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in making hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 General Election.
Reacting angrily to the news, Trump accused Democrats of lying, cheating, and stealing in their obsession with trying to get him. He also ratcheted up his attacks on Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, accusing him of “doing Joe Biden’s dirty work” while failing to prosecute crime in New York.
Reactions to Trump's indictment have run the gamut, from cynical to sublime. Some Republican Illinois lawmakers and US representatives criticized the indictment on Twitter while others tweeted their support for the former president.
During his arraignment, which is yet unscheduled because the charges remain sealed, Trump will likely undergo a typical booking process that includes a mugshot and fingerprints when he is taken into custody. He will likely be escorted into Bragg's office wearing a suit and tie surrounded by Secret Service agents.
In response to news of his indictment, Trump called it "political persecution" and "election interference at the highest level." Nonetheless, he was subdued as he took in becoming the first sitting or former president ever charged criminally.
The arrest involves $130k payment that Cohen sent Daniels over an affair with then-candidate Trump that Cohen was purportedly trying to hide leading up to his 2016 campaign.