Donald Trump becomes first former president to face criminal charges as grand jury moves to indict

Donald Trump has been indicted over the 2016 hush money he paid to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.

In a historic move, the grand jury in New York has voted in the last few minutes to indict the former US president.

No former president has ever been criminally indicted.

Trump paid Daniels £114,000 ($130,000) in 2016 in order to keep her quiet about the whole thing during his presidential campaign.

The Fox News studio can be heard gasping in disbelief as Donald Trump is indicted. (h/t @brenonade) pic.twitter.com/HuetOJQszG

— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) March 30, 2023

Daniels claims that she had a short brief affair with Trump in 2006.

However, ever since she filed a legal dispute in 2018, the Republican has maintained his innocence despite admitting to reimbursing the $130,000 payment made by his then-lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, before election day.

Mr Trump's attorney, Susan Necheles, confirmed the indictment to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

He is expected to surrender to authorities next week.

Cohen, who turned against his former boss and ended up testifying in court against Trump, issued a statement following the jury's decision, as per The Guardian.

"Today’s indictment is not the end of this chapter but rather just the beginning," he said.

“Now that these charges have been filed it is better for the case to let the indictment speak for itself. The two things I wish to say at this time are that accountability matters and I stand by my testimony and the evidence I have provided to the district attorney in New York.”

In the wake of his indictment, Trump, once again, has said that he's 'completely innocent'.

Earlier this morning (March 31), he issued a statement slamming the case as 'political persecution and election interference' at its highest.

Full statement pic.twitter.com/Y62m7S8Mmx

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 30, 2023

He wrote in part: "The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession to get 'Get Trump', and now they've done unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent in the act of blatant Election Interference.

He added: "I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden. The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here.

"Everyone can see it now. So our movement, and our party - united and strong - will Alvin Bragg, and we defeat will Joe Biden and then we are going to throw everyone of these last Democrats out of office and MAKE AMERICAN GREAT AGAIN."

Trump is also being investigated in several other cases.

Details are still emerging.