Donald Trump has been indicted in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office into his alleged cover-up of a hush money payment to a porn star ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Look back on our blog to see how the updates and reactions unfolded.
Key events
Live updates
We'll wrap up our live coverage here
By Jessica Riga
Thanks for following along with us today! If you're just joining us now, here's a quick recap to get you up to speed:
- A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, his lawyers have said.
- The indictment is the first criminal case against a former US president and a jolt to Trump's bid to retake the White House.
- Trump — who has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly attacked the investigation — called the indictment "political persecution" and predicted it would damage the Democrats in 2024.
Looking for more of our coverage on Trump's indictment?
- Former US president Donald Trump indicted over hush-money payments
- Donald Trump has been indicted. When will we know what charges he faces?
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These are the key figures in the Donald Trump indictment case
You can catch up on Friday's developments below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest news. Bye for now!
Who's who in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Donald Trump indictment?
By Jessica Riga
As Donald Trump fought his way to victory in the 2016 presidential campaign, key allies tried to smooth his bumpy path by paying off two women thinking of going public with allegations of extramarital encounters with the Republican.
The payoffs, and the way that Trump's company accounted for one of them, are believed to be at the centre of a grand jury investigation that led to a criminal indictment that could result in the first-ever criminal prosecution of a former US president.
In the link below, take a look at key figures in the case 👇
It's going to be a while before we see a trial, if there even is one
By Jessica Riga
That's according to Professor James Sample who is an expert in Constitutional Law at Hofstra University.
"This is a very, very big step in a big historic moment but it's going to be many months, maybe even approximately a year before a trial, if there ever is one, will go forward," he told Reuters.
"So we are a long way away from Donald Trump actually suffering lasting consequences for his actions.
"But this is one of the first times in Trump's entire life, much less political career, where there are some real potential consequences for his actions and he's no longer able to say that he could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and commit a crime and not have anyone take it seriously."
'Spin won't matter, facts will matter', expert says
By Jessica Riga
Hofstra University's James Sample, who is a professor of Constitutional Law, says Trump won't be able to "spin" his way out when placed in a court environment.
"At this point, he is no longer going to be able to compete merely in the court of public opinion," he told Reuters.
"Competing in actual court is a different thing. Spin won't matter, facts will matter, the law will matter and just as happened between election day in November of 2020 and the certification of the vote on January 6, 2021, in that in between period, every single time the president took his election denial efforts to court, in court where facts and law actually matter, he lost."
Indictment could 'open Pandora's box in terms of other prosecutions', expert says
By Jessica Riga
James Sample, a professor of Constitutional Law at the Hofstra University at Long Island, New York, says Donald Trump's indictment "may open Pandora's box in terms of the other prosecutions that he's facing across the nation."
"What's staggering really is the sheer volume of the potential charges that he's facing," he told Reuters.
"I mean, totally different jurisdictions. This is Manhattan, New York. In Washington, DC, in the Department of Justice, Jack Smith, the special counsel, is potentially pursuing not just one but two separate investigations, one into the January 6 insurrection and one into the classified documents that were found in Mar-a-Lago and the obstruction of justice that occurred thereafter.
"And then in Georgia, Fani Willis is investigating and has said that an indictment is imminent, although imminent seems to be somewhat a malleable term, with respect to his attempt to interfere with the Georgia election counting process and the urging of the Secretary of State to find more votes."
Watch: Trump supporters gather outside Mar-a-Lago
By Jessica Riga
What time could Trump be arraigned?
By Felicity Ripper
As mentioned earlier, US media has reported that Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in on Tuesday.
If we look to the past for clues about the timing of that, turning himself in at an earlier hour may help Trump avoid a media frenzy.
If he were to turn himself in at about 6am, local time, that would be 8pm on Australia's east coast.
When Allen Weisselberg, the former finance chief of Trump's company, was indicted in Manhattan on tax fraud charges in 2021, he was able to turn himself in at a courthouse side door before normal workday hours.
At the time, Weisselberg's lawyer's said the aim was "to reduce the likelihood that the surrender would become a media frenzy".
Weisselberg arrived around 6:15am and was taken to what his attorneys described as a "holding room" for booking, an interview about potential release, and other procedures.
He was arraigned and released about eight hours later (about 4am AEST) after being walked into a courtroom past a group of news cameras in the hallway.
What is an arraignment?
By Shiloh Payne
Earlier, we heard that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had contacted Trump's attorney to coordinate his surrender for arraignment.
But what exactly is an arraignment?
It's the first time a person will face a judge in court.
Here's what's involved:
- A person is told what charges are against them
- They are told their rights
- A plea is entered unless a plea bargain is met.
Pence: Indictment 'a great disservice' to the US
By Shiloh Payne
Former vice president Mike Pence spoke to CNN earlier, where he described Trump's indictment as "a great disservice to the country".
"I really do believe that this decision today is a great disservice to the country," Pence says.
"And the idea that for the first time in American history a former president would be indicted on a campaign finance issue to me, it just smacks of political prosecution."
"I think the overwhelming majority of the American people will see it that way".
He added that he can't speak to the merit of this particular case.
Pelosi says 'no one is above the law'
By Shiloh Payne
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the grand jury "has acted upon the facts of the law" in indicting the former president.
"No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence," Ms Pelosi says.
"Hopefully, the former President will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right."
Trump supporters are gathering at Mar-a-Lago
By Felicity Ripper
Donald Trump's supporters have shown up outside his Palm Beach, Florida estate.
They're waving flags and holding signs in protest of his indictment.
What do we actually mean when we say 'indictment'?
By Jessica Riga
What exactly does indictment mean?
- Rach
Hey Rach, thanks for writing in.
An indictment is basically a formal notice of criminal charges, but it does not mean there is a warrant out for Trump's arrest.
In some cases, defendants are offered the opportunity to turn themselves over for voluntary processing, a common practice in white collar investigations in the US.
An arrest warrant would only be issued if Trump failed to appear.
You can read more about the process in this piece linked below.
What role will the Secret Service play?
By Jessica Riga
Hypothetically, if the DT flees to a country with no extradition, does his secret service detail follow? Or would they forceable bring him back?
- quagmire
We don't need to deal in hypotheticals as it's expected Trump will voluntarily surrender on Tuesday, according to one of his lawyers, Susan Necheles.
But if Trump doesn't, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made it clear he "will not assist in an extradition request" should one come from New York authorities.
As for the Secret Service, Trump will almost certainly be accompanied at every step of the process — from the moment he is taken into custody until his appearance before a judge in Lower Manhattan's imposing Criminal Courts Building — by armed agents, who are required by law to protect him at all times.
Where is Trump right now?
By Jessica Riga
Is Trump even in NY? Will they actually be able to arrest him?
- Josh
Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions so far! Things have calmed down somewhat so I've had time to find us some answers. Let's start with this question from Josh about the former president's whereabouts.
Right now, Donald Trump is in Florida.
His lawyers have said he will surrender to face the charges and fly to New York for the arraignment.
Watch: Donald Trump's indictment divides crowd outside the White House
By Jessica Riga
Watch: New Yorkers react to the news of Trump's indictment
By Jessica Riga
New Yorkers have weighed in on former president Donald Trump's indictment.
That's one big sign outside the Manhattan Criminal Court
By Jessica Riga
A giant sign reading "Trump lies all the time" has been displayed outside Manhattan Criminal Court following Donald Trump's indictment by a grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.
Donald Trump has been indicted, when will we know what charges he faces?
By Jessica Riga
After days of intense speculation, it's finally happened: former US president Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury.
He will be the first former president in US history to face criminal charges.
The exact details of what he's being charged with are not yet known because grand jury proceedings in the US remain secret until the defendant is in custody.
But we know the hearings focused on an alleged hush money payment made to adult performer Stormy Daniels in 2016.
So what happens now? Will we see Mr Trump in handcuffs? Will he have to pose for a mugshot?
- Rebecca Armitage, Lucy Sweeney and Lucia Stein have all the details in the link below.
Trump expected to turn himself in on Tuesday, US media reports
By Jessica Riga
The New York Times is reporting Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in on Tuesday for arraignment, citing one of his lawyers.
How will Donald Trump's indictment play out?
By Jessica Riga
Time Magazine's Jay Newtown-Small analyses the implications of the indictment for the US presidential election and possibility of unrest.
