Donald Trump is facing criminal charges over hush money payments made to an adult film star just before the 2016 presidential election.
It comes after a grand jury voted to indict the former US president after investigating a £100,000 ($130,000) pay-out to Stormy Daniels in an attempt to buy her silence over an alleged affair.
The 76-year-old, said he is innocent and claimed he is the victim of a political ‘witch hunt’ against him.
Why has Trump been indicted, who is Stormy Daniels, and could the politician be jailed? MailOnline has everything you need to know about the indictment below.
Your questions about Donald Trump answered
Why has Trump been indicted?
An indictment is a formal written accusation that someone has committed a crime, and usually involves felony charges which are crimes be punished by a jail term of more than one year.
Donald Trump was indicted by a New York City grand jury on charges of falsifying business records that relate to payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to prevent her from exposing an alleged affair.
Former porn star Stormy Daniels claims she had an adulterous affair with the former president, and was paid $130,000 to keep quiet.
What are the charges against him?
He reportedly faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud, sources told CNN.
But it is not yet known the specific details of what charges Trump faces.
Has Trump been arrested?
After a grand jury convened to investigate the evidence in the hush-money probe, on March 18 Trump took to social media to announce that he expects to be arrested.
He now waits at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where Trump fans have gathered outside to support him, waving US flags.
Trump supporters have gathered outside his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago
What happens next?
The former US President is expected to appear in court to face the charges and enter a plea in New York next Tuesday.
Is it illegal to pay hush money?
While it is not illegal to pay hush money, the former president allegedly recorded it as a business expense, and falsifying business records is illegal in New York.
Who is Stormy Daniels?
Stormy Daniels, 44, whose legal name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, is a adult film star born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
She started working in strip clubs during high school to support herself financially, eventually working as a porn actress under the pseudonym Stormy Daniels.
After meeting Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, California in 2006, she claimed he invited her to dinner and they later had sex in his hotel room despite being married to Melania Trump.
Stormy Daniels, 44, (pictured) is the adult film star at the centre of the indictment charges against Donald Trump
She also claimed he offered her a role on his then reality show, The Apprentice.
But when Trump ran for office in 2016, he got wind that Daniels was negotiating a deal to go on television and discuss their alleged affair, and received the hush money made by Trump’s then lawyer Michael Cohen.
Trump has denied having sex with Daniels and said the money had nothing to do with the election he won.
Earlier today she posted on Twitter: ‘Thank you to everyone for your support and love! I have so many messages coming in that I can’t respond…also don’t want to spill my champagne #Teamstormy merch/autograph orders are pouring in, too! Thank you for that as well but allow a few extra days for shipment.’
Who is Michael Cohen?
Michael Cohen served as Trump’s lawyer and fixed before he became President.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, he was a prominent spokesperson and loyal defender of his boss.
After acknowledging that he made payments to Daniels over her alleged affair with Trump, in December 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail for various crimes including tax evasion, campaign finance violations and lying to the US Congress.
Trump on January 6, 2021 – the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol
Can Trump still run for president?
Trump is hoping to be the Republican candidate for the 2024 election, after he announced his aspirations to seek re-election last year.
Technically, yes he could still run for President despite facing criminal charges.
There is nothing in US law which would prevent a candidate who is found guilty of a crime from campaigning for, and serving as, president, even from prison.
However politically it would throw his campaign into turmoil and may dissuade voters from ticking his box.
But it could also go the other way and cause some Republicans to rally around their champion.
It would certainly prove divisive and serve to deepen views around the controversial figure.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk