Former US President Donald Trump is facing charges related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an alleged extra-marital affair with him. Trump, who has denied the affair, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week. Following his arraignment, he is expected to return to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for a news event with supporters and allies.
What to Know:
Former President Donald Trump surrendered to authorities at the courthouse in Manhattan and is expected to be arraigned this afternoon before Judge Juan Merchan, where he will be fingerprinted.
The 30 unknown charges against him related to document fraud will be unsealed and made public during the arraignment.
The charges stem from an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg into hush money payments made to two women who alleged affairs with Trump, which he denies.
Trump supporters, anti-Trump protesters, and media crowd outside the courthouse during the proceedings, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos joining Trump supporters.
Security has been tightened around Trump Tower and the Manhattan criminal court building ahead of expected demonstrations. The indictment is one of many legal challenges that Trump faces as he plans to run for president again. A prosecutor in Georgia is investigating his efforts to reverse his 2020 election defeat in Georgia, while the US justice department is investigating his attempts to retain power in 2020 and his retention of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021.
Surveys conducted before the indictment indicate that most Americans agree with the grand jury's decision and support the charges against him.
