When institutions are stronger than individuals: ex-US President Donald Trump surrenders to face criminal charges

Web Desk

Former US President Donald Trump surrendered to Manhattan authorities after being indicted on 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records on Tuesday. Trump, who is actively campaigning for another term in the White House, is the first sitting or former president in US history to face criminal charges.

The charges stem from an alleged $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, which was supposedly documented as “legal expenses” in the financial records of the Trump Organization.

While Trump and his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen initially denied the claims of an affair, Cohen later admitted that there was a payment made to the porn star. Trump has since admitted he authorized the $130,000 payment, but has continued to deny the underlying claims that the two had an affair or that the payment was in any way connected to his campaign.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office began presenting evidence to a grand jury in the case in January, with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker among the witnesses who were seen entering the grand jury building over the course of the investigation. The company that publishes the Enquirer admitted in late 2018 that it helped broker “catch and kill” deals with Daniels and other women, in which it paid the women hush money for their stories, effectively silencing them ahead of the 2016 election.

In a statement issued on social media after the news of his indictment was reported, Trump slammed the investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney as a “Witch-Hunt [that] will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” despite that the current president has no ties to the indictment.

The specific charges against the former president are expected to formally be made public, so long as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asks the court to unseal the indictment. Trump’s attorney had earlier indicated that the former president would travel from Florida to face the charges, telling the Today show last week: “He’s not gonna hole up in Mar-a-Lago.”

As The Washington Post notes, however, Trump’s first court appearance won’t be broadcast across the nation, since New York prohibits the use of cameras in most courtrooms.

Trump’s arrest has caused shockwaves across the political landscape, with many wondering how this will impact his political future. It remains to be seen how this will all play out, but one thing is for sure – the allegations against Trump are serious and he will have to answer for them in court.

In the meantime, Stormy Daniels has spoken out about the indictment, expressing her fears for her safety in light of the charges against Trump. “Trump is no longer untouchable,” she said. “I hope that justice is served and that he is held accountable for his actions.”

Regardless of the outcome of the trial, this indictment will go down in history as a watershed moment in U.S. politics. For the first time ever, a former president has been indicted on criminal charges, and the world is watching to see how this will all play out.