Former President, Donald Trump, has been indicted by a grand jury in New York on more than 30 counts of business fraud.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has been investigating the former president in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates to the 2016 presidential election.
Source: CNN
He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, but late in 2022 he announced that he would run again in 2024.
One thing to note: he can still run, and win, even if he is convicted. There is no law to prevent a felon from winning the office of President. But, it is very unlikely they can convict him in 18 months. Another thing to note: the Office of Legal Counsel has said you can’t prosecute a sitting president, but they haven’t said what happens if a convict wins the election.
Some think he can (and will) use his mugshot as a campaign poster. Trump said it might help his numbers. He’ll spin this so that he is seen as a martyr; he has already done this at campaign rallies.
UPDATE 4/4/2023
He was arrested, booked and arraigned on April 4, on 34 felony counts of business fraud.
UPDATE 5/23/2023
The trial date has been set for the Stormy Daniels trial.
Donald Trump’s trial on criminal charges over hush money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels will begin on 25 March 2024, amid the Republican presidential primary and less than than eight months before the general election the former president hopes to contest.
Source: Guardian