A lawyer for Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he has been informed that the former president has been indicted in New York on charges related to payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to conceal allegations of an illicit sexual encounter.
It is the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president and a setback for Trump’s 2024 White House ambition.
Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, informed the Associated Press that a grand jury that had been gathering for months had chosen to indict Trump. The particular allegations were not made public immediately.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing and assailed the probe, was scheduled to surrender to investigators next week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who was not allowed to discuss a sealed case.
Trump’s indictment by a grand jury after years of probes into his commercial, political, and personal connections is a remarkable development.
It is expected to rally those who believe Trump lied and cheated his way to the top and inspire those who believe a Democratic prosecutor is unfairly targeting the Republican.