Checks & Imbalances: Trump Indicted

Today we look at the first U.S. president to be indicted.

Trump Indicted By Manhattan Grand Jury—Arraignment Expected Tuesday On Over 30 Charges, Reports Say

“A Manhattan grand jury voted Thursday to indict former President Donald Trump over an alleged hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, a source with knowledge of the proceedings told Forbes, with an arraignment reportedly expected Tuesday—marking the first time in American history a former president has been criminally charged,” report Nicholas Reimann and Sara Dorn.

Trump’s team has indicated he will surrender to authorities in New York for his arraignment, where he will briefly be under arrest at the district attorney’s office—he will likely be fingerprinted, have his mugshot taken and enter a plea before being released from custody.

The investigation into Trump—led by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office—centers on a $130,000 payment his former fixer Michael Cohen made to Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign to allegedly keep her from going public about an affair she says she had with Trump years earlier, which Trump has denied.

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Tracking Trump: The Lawsuits And Investigations Involving The Former President

The Manhattan DA’s look into Trump’s payments to Stormy Daniels is just one of one about 40 recent cases, lawsuits and investigations involving the former president. It can be hard to keep track of them all. Forbes is here to help, with the most-thorough compendium of Trump’s legal problems published anywhere.

Trump Indicted In Manhattan—Here’s What Will Happen Next (Yes, He’ll Probably Get A Mugshot)

“Former President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from his alleged hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, an unprecedented event for a former president that will lead to him being arraigned in court next week—but not held in custody or being forced to end to his presidential campaign,” reports Alison Durkee.

Could He Go To Prison? The expected charges against Trump could carry a prison sentence of up to four years if he’s convicted.

When Will We See The Indictment? The indictment is now filed under seal, and it won’t be made public until Trump’s arraignment in court unless the Manhattan district attorney makes it available earlier.

What Happens If Trump Doesn’t Voluntarily Surrender? If Trump doesn’t voluntarily surrender as expected and is still at his home in Florida at Mar-a-Lago, he would have to be extradited, which would either be approved by a judge or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Trump’s main rival for the 2024 presidential nomination.

Trump And Allies Respond To Indictment With Fundraising Pleas

“Former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies urged his supporters to contribute to his 2024 presidential campaign Thursday, in response to his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following an investigation into hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election,” reports Siladitya Ray.

A fundraising email sent by the Trump campaign refers to his indictment as the “darkest chapter in American history,” and accuses the Democrats of cheating and “weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent.”

Urging his supporters to contribute “any amount” to “defend our movement from the never-ending witch hunts,” the email adds that the indictment will “BACKFIRE MASSIVELY on Joe Biden.”

A second fundraising email from the Trump campaign promised to send an “I Stand With Trump” t-shirt to supporters who contribute more than $47 before midnight Thursday.

Trump Indictment: Republicans Including Pence, DeSantis, McCarthy And Don Jr. Rage Against Criminal Charges

“Republicans from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) rallied around former President Donald Trump following his history-making criminal indictment in Manhattan on Thursday, attacking the probe as a ‘weaponization of the legal system’—matching Trump’s accusations of a ‘Witch-Hunt’ against him,” reports Sara Dorn:

DeSantis, who is expected to challenge Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, called the indictment “un-American” in a tweet that did not directly mention Trump, adding that he will not assist in an extradition request (it’s unclear if Trump will need to be extradited from his Florida home as his attorneys have suggested he will surrender voluntarily).

McCarthy targeted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a tweet, accusing him of “routinely” freeing “violent criminals to terrorize the public” and warning that the House will hold Bragg and “his unprecedented abuse of power to account,” while House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) responded with a one-word tweet: “Outrageous” (Bragg has rebuffed House GOP lawmakers’ attempts to investigate his Trump probe).

Former Vice President Mike Pence told CNN the charges are an “outrage” that will “only further serve to divide our country.”

Dozens Of Trump Supporters Gather Outside Mar-A-Lago Following His Indictment—As NYPD Steps Up Security

“Dozens of Donald Trump supporters gathered outside his residence in Mar-A-Lago, Florida, Thursday evening after he was indicted by a New York grand jury for his role in alleged hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, although the sparse turnout was not exactly in line with Trump’s earlier calls for mass protests,” reports Siladitya Ray.

Local media reports showed supporters holding banners, Trump 2024 campaign flags and American flags as they gathered at a bridge near Mar-a-Lago.

Some people who drove through the area also appeared to express support by honking their horns and shouting from their cars.

Palm Beach police officers were at the site, although the situation remained peaceful, local reports added.

Tracking Trump

Hours after news broke that he’d been indicted, Trump dined among his customers at Mar-a-Lago, according to an Instagram post.

Across Forbes