A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump. The charges are likely linked to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
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Grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump in New York
On March 30th, a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump on charges related to hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He is the first former president to face criminal charges – a development that will shake up the 2024 race.
The Full Timeline
Days before the 2016 election, Trump wired money to Stormy Daniels in an effort to keep her silent about their alleged sexual encounter that took place just months after wife Melania Trump gave birth to their son Barron.
Here's a timeline of Trump and Daniels' alleged relationship, the $130,000 payment to keep Daniels silent, and the testimonies that led to an indictment.
At least 26 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, with allegations stretching back to the 1970s and running through 2016.
Who is Stormy Daniels?
In 2016, Daniels allegedly received a hush money payment of 130,000 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter with former President Trump. Six years later, it’s the subject of an indictment.
Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is a porn star who met President Donald Trump in 2006. She says Trump's longtime fixer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 before the 2016 presidential election to keep quiet about an affair, which Trump has denied.
The Political World Reacts to Trump’s Indictment
Reports say that Trump and his aides were “stunned at the timing of the news” though his appearance at Mar-a-Lago tells a very different story. Trump has fundamentally changed the Republican party and despite controversy, many members still consider themselves to be aligned with him and it doesn’t seem to be changing in the face of criminal charges.
So, What’s Next?
Trump plans to surrender in Manhattan on Tuesday where the indictment will remain sealed until he is arraigned. Any number of different paths await him, but the ripple effect will certainly be felt as he makes his third bid for the White House.
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Donald Trump was indicted Thursday by a Manhattan grand jury, a first for an ex-president. The case comes after a years-long probe into an alleged $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. The news sparked a frenzied reaction from Trump and his allies ahead of a likely arraignment next week.
