Donald Trump will be arraigned in New York on Tuesday, court officials confirmed, after a grand jury voted to charge the US former president in a historic indictment.
The eye of a legal and political storm will now settle over the District Attorney's office in lower Manhattan as Mr Trump returns to his hometown to be formally charged and stand trial.
The charges are founded in an alleged scheme to cover up a sexual encounter that adult film star Stormy Daniels said she had with him in 2006.
Mr Trump denies the affair or any involvement in hush-money payments to keep Daniels quiet.
Mr Trump's legal team is reportedly considering requesting to move his criminal case from Manhattan to Staten Island, a more conservative New York borough, over concerns that he will not receive a fair trial.
However, any attempt to move the trial venue is likely to fail, as defendants are not entitled to seek out juries based on specific characteristics they find more favourable.
The lawyers have not made a final decision, and the charges in the indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will be unsealed on Tuesday.
Outside the DA's office on Friday, police officers and journalists gathered in anticipation of any possible protests.
“If he's indicted for paying off Stormy to hush up, why didn't this happen a long time ago? Why did it come out now?” Maria Shkerli, an independent voter, told The National outside the courthouse.
She said the prospect of a former president standing trial in today's polarised America made her “a little nervous”.
“I'm not sure if it's just political stuff, trying to get him indicted so he doesn't have to run … We need some fresh blood to unite the country and I think this is going to cause more havoc with Trump supporters.”
Kate Norman, another passer-by, said the indictment would not change anything.
“They just want to make a show of power,” she said.
The number and nature of the charges Mr Trump faces were not made public on Friday. CNN reported he faced more than 30 counts.
In the 2020 election that Mr Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden, 75 per cent of people in Manhattan voted against him. The former New Yorker once boasted that he “could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and not lose voters.
“Corrupt powerful men that do bad things in our society have to be held to account,” said anti-Trump protester Marina Kalasa.
“Maybe this isn't going to stop him from running for public office but at the same time, still like the grand jury indicted him, and I think that's a powerful message.”
Unchartered territory
In terms of his legal situation, Mr Trump is being prosecuted for an alleged campaign finance violation.
Mr Trump allegedly failed to disclose payments to Daniels with the purpose of influencing an election. Details on the charges have not yet been made public.
The central question is what was the purpose of the alleged hush payment, said Claire Rajan, a political partner at the Allen & Overy law firm.
“Was it to influence the election? Or was it he didn't want his family to find out? Or [was it that] he just didn't want to deal with bad press because of his businesses?” Ms Rajan told The National.
No president has been charged with a felony crime, but that is not a precluding factor in Mr Trump running for the White House next year.
“Being charged with a felony, being found guilty of a felony is not a disqualifier under the Constitution,” said Anna Cominsky, an associate professor of law at New York Law School.
Mr Trump has long galvanised his base around the idea that he has been unfairly attacked by Democrats and the mainstream media.
He is currently the Republican front-runner, with a commanding lead in the polls over other declared or would-be contenders.
The indictment is unlikely to change how his “hardcore” base views him, said Clifford Young, president of US public affairs at Ipsos.
“They might double down on him,” Mr Young told The National.
Presidential historians are struggling to understand what the charges mean for the office itself and Mr Trump's legacy.
“In many ways, the Trump presidency is not over yet. We're still living with it,” said Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian and visiting professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
“To have not just a former president, but a potential political front-runner of a major political party in this country in the 2024 election, to have him also be under this kind of legal scrutiny, is something we've not seen before.”
Ukraine%20exports
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Company%20profile%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nag%20Ashwin%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrabhas%2C%20Saswata%20Chatterjee%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%2C%20Shobhana%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
