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31st March 2023
12:02pm BST

Trump becomes the first US President in history to be charged with a crime. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
With the exact nature of the indictment currently unknown due to its filing under seal, an announcement will be made in the coming days detailing the charges being brought against the 2024 Republican presidential hopeful.
In another development, Trump himself is also expected to surrender to authorities in New York City, before appearing before a judge in Manhattan this coming Tuesday.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the 45th President of the United States for a prolonged period of time, in relation to Trump's alleged role in a hush money payment scheme involving the adult film star, Stormy Daniels.
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The news of the indictment came as a surprise to Trump, who gave his first Presidential campaign rally in Texas on Saturday. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
Responding to the indictment, Trump and his team released a statement which claimed the charges were "political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history".
"I believe this witch-hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden. The American People realise exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it... we are going to throw every last one of these crooked Democrats out of office so we can Make America Great Again", Trump said.The news of the charges brought against Trump were seen as somewhat of a surprise despite the lengthy investigation. Reports last week had suggested an indictment might be brought then, but following the passing of time, many people, including Trump himself, felt the likelihood of charges had greatly diminished. [caption id="attachment_771546" align="alignnone" width="640"]
The news of the indictment has sent shockwaves throughout the Republican Party. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be Trump's biggest rival ahead of the Republican primaries. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
This schism has given way to the rise of Ron DeSantis, with the Florida Governor shaping up to be Trump's main threat in securing the Republican Party nomination.
Indicting Trump will only deepen this divide, with Trump's base likely to lean into the 'witch-hunt' narrative already being peddled by the former President.
Meanwhile, backers of DeSantis will likely see this as an opportunity to further the Floridian's claim to the Republican nomination, an event which will further polarise an increasingly disenfranchised party.
Some allies of Trump have already leapt to his defence, with his former Vice President Mike Pence describing the charges as "an outrage" and remarking that they are little more than "political persecution that's driven by a prosecutor who literally ran for office on a pledge to indict the former President".
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Mike Pence, Trump's former Vice President, has defended his former campaign mate. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
Other more moderate Republicans, who see DeSantis as the party's best option in reclaiming power, have weighed in with support for the American judicial system.
Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska stated "I think we have checks and balances and I trust the system... I think in the end, justice will be done. If he's guilty it will show up".
An intriguing weekend awaits for observers of American politics, as the splintered Republican party debates whether Trump remains its' messiah, or ultimately ends up as pariah.
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