If your newsfeed looks anything like mine, it has been bombarded over the past year or so with headlines detailing the legal drama related to Donald Trump. Last week, Trump was indicted and this new development heralded another wave of news stories. This article is intended to cut through all of the legal jargon and provide a Sparknotes-esque synopsis that breaks everything down.
What does indictment even mean?
An indictment is a formal notice that a person is suspected of committing a serious crime. The indictment will list the charges against that person and other basic information. It is important to note that being indicted is not the same as being convicted. To be indicted means to be accused of committing a crime while, to be convicted, means to be found guilty of that crime.
The indictment process is lengthy. The journey from indictment to conviction (or some other form of resolution) can take well over a year. Indictment is generally followed by arrest, preliminary hearing, and criminal trial, where a final decision is made. However, the specific details vary between federal and state governments.
Why was trump indicted?
As explained by a New York Times article, Donald Trump was indicted on March 30, 2023 by a Manhattan grand jury. The indictment includes 34 felony charges, all of which have to do with business fraud over hush-money payments to ex-porn actress Stormy Daniels. In October 2016, Trump paid Daniels $130,000 in order to silence her from going public about the affair. This deal was carried out by Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen. When Trump reimbursed Cohen, he classified the transactions as “legal expenses,” which is untrue given that no legal services were provided.
What are the next steps?
Trump has already arrived in New York City to hand himself over to the authorities. Last Tuesday, he attended his first court hearing, which is referred to as an arraignment hearing. During the arraignment, Trump was presented with the charges against him and pleaded not guilty. According to another New York Times article, the next hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2023 and a trial is anticipated to begin in early January 2024.
How will this affect the 2024 presidential election?
Ok, the big question. . . what does all of this mean for the 2024 presidential election? As outlined in a CBS News article, Trump can still run for president if indicted. In fact, Trump can run for president and take office even if he is convicted. It would certainly be unprecedented but, legally speaking, there are no barriers to stop him. During an interview with Tucker Carlson this past week, Trump announced that he intends to continue campaigning. Neither indictment nor conviction will deter him.
There are no legal obstacles, but how has this situation complicated Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign? The short answer is that it is impossible to know. Political analysts are divided over whether the indictment will hurt Trump’s chances or potentially help him. Many speculate that these legal charges might strengthen Trump’s support amongst Republicans, perhaps benefiting him in the primaries, but dissuade independents from voting for him in the general election. All we can really do at the moment is wait and see how everything plays out. One this is for certain though. . . this indictment has changed the trajectory of the 2024 presidential campaign.