Ex-President Donald Trump is the first American President to be charged with a felony. He was arrested this Tuesday in Manhattan. Trump’s indictment comprises 34 felony charges.
He has been accused of falsifying records in the first degree, which stemmed from a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to hide an alleged affair.
Donald Trump:
"This fake case was brought only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election, and it should be dropped immediately" pic.twitter.com/XLV45uHhfd
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 5, 2023
While at first Ms. Daniel’s representatives had tried to sell the story to the National Enquirer, David Pecker, an ally of Trump who was the tabloid’s editor, instead set up a deal between Ms. Daniels and Trump’s lawyer, Mr. Cohen.
As per the deal, Trump paid $130,000 via Mr. Cohen to Ms. Daniels. The amount was later reimbursed to the lawyer from the White House.
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Mr. Cohen would soon face and plead guilty to many charges against him in 2018, including the hush money paid out to Ms. Daniels. The District Attorney’s attention to this transaction would draw attention to Trump.
During his arraignment, Trump pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case, has also denied any request to allow Trump’s absence during the trial.
Also Read| ‘We’re not going to have a country’: Former US President Donald Trump on 2024 elections
Donald Trump pleads not guilty to charges of falsifying business records in NYC courthouse.
Trump supporters see the DA Bragg's charges as a political attack, resulting in stronger support for Trump in the 2024 election.https://t.co/XUepQahedI
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) April 4, 2023
Trump has also vehemently denied the affair and the large payout made out to Stormy Daniels. He has declared the charges and his subsequent arrest politically motivated to hinder his election process.
Trump’s indictment is historic and naturally poses a lot of questions. It significantly questions the 2024 presidential elections, where Trump is the leading Republican candidate.
Also Read| Donald Trump indicted in Stormy Daniels hush money case: Will he run for 2024 President elections?
Donald Trump could run for the presidential elections from a legal standpoint. Legal experts have stated that the Constitution of the US has particular qualifications for a president. These involve being 35 or above, an American citizen, and a country resident for at least 14 years.
While lawmakers could not have predicted a president to be indicted, it provides a loophole that allows Trump to stand for the 2024 presidential elections.
