Donald Trump to face criminal trial as America bracing for violent clashes
Donald Trump will appear before a judge next week
Reuters
America is bracing for chaos with Donald Trump set to become the first former president of the United States to be charged with a crime.
The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury yesterday after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The specific charges are not yet known, as the indictment remains under seal.
However, Trump is accused of falsifying business records after $130,000 was paid to the adult performer to stop her from speaking publicly about an affair she claims to have had with him in 2006.
The former President has been accused of paying money for porn star Stormy Daniels
Reuters
The New York Police Department has ordered a full mobilisation plan for all uniformed officers to be "prepared for deployment" over the fears of outbreaks following the news.
The former President has said he is "completely innocent" and indicated he would not drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
"The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant election Interference," he said.
"Never before in our nation's history has this been done."
Extra security is in place over fears of violent outbreaks
Reuters
His lawyers added in a statement: 'President Trump has been indicted. He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.'
Trump has appealed to supporters to help fund his legal defence.
There are concerns violent demonstrations could break out in the aftermath of criminal charges with authorities having already bolstered security around the Manhattan courthouse where the grand jury was meeting.
Trump had called for nationwide protests from his supporters in order to voice their anger at the legal action against him.
Donald Trump has denied all wrong-doing
Reuters
Similar rhetoric used in January 2021 led to attacks on the US Capitol.
The Manhattan investigation is just one of several legal challenges concerning Trump.
Trump also faces a separate criminal probe into whether he unlawfully tried to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia, and two investigations by a special counsel including over his handling of classified documents after leaving office.
It is expected the former President will travel to the US early next week for fingerprinting and other processing and to appear before a judge where the charges will be formally read.