The Arraignment

The Story

It's been another day for the history books.

I heard, but go on.

Yesterday, former President Trump surrendered to authorities in Manhattan after a grand jury indicted him for his alleged role in a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He arrived with his legal team and an 11-vehicle motorcade surrounded by Secret Service. Also on the scene: competing anti- and pro-Trump protesters and lawmakers like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and George Santos (R-NY). Officials fingerprinted the former president, but didn't take a mugshot or handcuff him, reportedly citing security concerns.

What was he charged with?

34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege Trump used a “catch and kill” scheme to bury any negative info that would have affected his 2016 presidential campaign. That includes stories of his alleged affairs with Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, among others. Prosecutors say Trump “went to great lengths to hide this conduct, causing dozens of false entries in business records to conceal criminal activity.” He faces up to four years in prison per felony conviction, but experts reportedly say first-time offenders don’t typically see any jail time.

How are Americans feeling?

Divided. One poll found that nearly all Democrats approve of the indictment, whereas 79% of Republicans disapprove. But it also found that a majority of Americans believe the indictment was motivated by politics. Trump says Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg — who campaigned on indicting the former president — is using the lawsuit for name recognition. Falsifying business records is typically considered a misdemeanor in New York. But the charges can rise to a felony, if the misdemeanor was committed in order to cover up another crime. Some Democratic lawmakers say that no one is above the law and believe Trump will be given a fair trial.

What else?

Trump says the only crime he’s committed is “to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it.” He called his impeachments a “hoax” and told Americans that “our country is going to hell.” Bragg says, “everyone stands equal before the law” and that “no amount of money and no amount of power” changes that. The Biden admin says this case “is not something that is a focus” for the president. Meanwhile, Trump’s next hearing is scheduled for December 4, but prosecutors are asking for a trial date to be set in January 2024.

theSkimm

Trump’s arraignment is one for the history books. The arrest comes as 45 faces several other investigations, including for election interference and mishandling classified documents. What this means for his bid for the 2024 presidency is still unclear.