The historic indictment of former US President Donald Trump in New York is testing American democracy. While the 76-year-old, who wants to move back into the White House, spoke of “political persecution and electoral interference”, important Republicans stood behind him on Friday. Trump is the first ex-president in US history to face criminal charges for hush money payments to a porn star. He could face several years in prison if convicted. Manhattan prepares for protests.

The indictment from the Manhattan Attorney’s Office is still under lock and key – the exact charges are still unknown until the expected reading of the indictment next week, probably on Tuesday. It’s about hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and possibly another woman. The process is also likely to have an impact on Trump’s already announced candidacy for the presidency – and could even help Trump in the end.

Immediately after the indictment on Thursday evening (local time), Trump took the opportunity to solicit donations via email. The country is experiencing the darkest chapter in its history. “With your support, we will write the next great chapter in US history – and 2024 will forever be remembered as the year we saved our republic,” it said. The addressees were asked for donations of 24 dollars (around 22 euros) or more.

Trump denies affair

The charges stem from payments made to Daniels after years of investigation by Manhattan Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Shortly before his election as president in 2016, Trump paid the porn actress hush money after she claimed she had had sex with him. Trump denies an affair, but not that money flowed. According to allegations, however, the payment was deliberately miscalculated in order to cover up the reason for it. In addition, the payment could conflict with campaign finance rules. Several US media reported that there were more than 30 charges.

Trump was outraged by the charges. “This is political persecution and electoral interference at the highest level in history,” it said in a written statement. The Democrats had tried to damage him politically since his first presidential bid. Now they have “done the unthinkable – to accuse a completely innocent person in an act of blatant electoral interference,” Trump lamented. All of this will fall back on President Joe Biden and his Democrats. Trump spoke of an attack on the country.

The ex-president claimed a few days ago that his arrest in the case was imminent – and called on his supporters to protest. New York then prepared for possible demonstrations and increased security around the courthouse in downtown Manhattan. So far there have been no major protests. That could possibly follow.

McCarthy: “Holy legal system instrumentalised”

Influential Republicans reacted outraged to the charges and saw them as an attack on democracy. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted that Prosecutor Bragg “has instrumentalized our sacred legal system against President Donald Trump.” McCarthy is considered a Trump ally. From a purely legal point of view, Trump is also likely to stand as a convicted criminal in the 2024 election, as legal experts emphasize.

But even possible internal party competitors for the 2024 election criticized the procedure. “When the legal system is used as a weapon to advance a political agenda, the rule of law is turned on its head,” wrote Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump’s former deputy, ex-Vice President Mike Pence, also described the charges as a “scandal”. Pence told CNN: “This will only serve to further divide this country.”

Several US Democrats, on the other hand, emphasized that all US citizens must be treated equally. “No one is above the law,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter. Porn actress Daniels herself thanked her followers for their support after the indictment. “I got so many messages I can’t even reply…I don’t want to spill my champagne either,” she wrote on Twitter.