Donald Trump become the first former US president to be criminally charged
Donald Trump © pixabay.com
The charges were brought against the 76-year-old politician by a Manhattan grand jury and are related to payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign that were allegedly intended to buy the silence of women with whom Trump had extramarital affairs.
According to Euronews, the main charge is related to a $130,000 payment that was made to porn star Stormy Daniels. The charge does not concern the payment itself, but rather the allegation that it was illegally disguised as "campaign expenses." The former president denies any connection to Daniels or the payments made to her.
Trump has called the charges against him "political persecution and interference in elections at the highest level." Some Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have also spoken out against the prosecution of Trump and accused the Manhattan district attorney of exceeding his authority for political reasons.
Former federal prosecutor Nima Rahmani believes that legally, the case will not affect the 2024 presidential race. If Trump wins, as a sitting president, he cannot be criminally charged, and the case should be dismissed. Even if Trump is convicted before the election, these charges will not prevent him from holding public office.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stated that "Trump must abide by the same laws as every American." At the same time, it is expected that the former president will appear in court on Tuesday. The judge presiding over the case will be Juan Mercan.
