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| Trump indictment: A simple guide to what it means | Trump indictment: A simple guide to what it means |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| Former US President Donald Trump has been arrested and charged with 34 felony counts related to business fraud. | Former US President Donald Trump has been arrested and charged with 34 felony counts related to business fraud. |
| The man who spent four years in the White House was brought before a judge on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. | The man who spent four years in the White House was brought before a judge on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. |
| The case comes as he campaigns to become president again, in the 2024 election. | The case comes as he campaigns to become president again, in the 2024 election. |
| Here's what it's all about. | Here's what it's all about. |
| What is the latest news? | What is the latest news? |
| On Tuesday, Mr Trump went to court, where he was arrested, and charged with 34 felony counts of fraud in a 16-page indictment. | |
| These charges relate to a $130,000 (£105,000) payment made to buy the silence of an adult film actress, Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with him. | These charges relate to a $130,000 (£105,000) payment made to buy the silence of an adult film actress, Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with him. |
| The wire transfer came 12 days before the 2016 election that Mr Trump won against Hillary Clinton. | The wire transfer came 12 days before the 2016 election that Mr Trump won against Hillary Clinton. |
| A jury in New York last week voted to indict Mr Trump, which means they believed there was enough evidence to bring criminal charges against him. | A jury in New York last week voted to indict Mr Trump, which means they believed there was enough evidence to bring criminal charges against him. |
| What is a grand jury | What is a grand jury |
| A new lawyer, Todd Blanche, joined Mr Trump's legal team ahead of his arraignment. | A new lawyer, Todd Blanche, joined Mr Trump's legal team ahead of his arraignment. |
| The former president was released by the court and flew back to his Mar-a-Lago home where he will address supporters on Tuesday evening. | The former president was released by the court and flew back to his Mar-a-Lago home where he will address supporters on Tuesday evening. |
| What happened between Stormy Daniels and Trump? | |
| Who is the prosecutor charging Trump? | |
| What is Trump accused of? | What is Trump accused of? |
| Ms Daniels says she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, which he has always denied. | Ms Daniels says she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, which he has always denied. |
| In 2016 she tried to sell her account of what happened to the media. Mr Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 to keep quiet. | In 2016 she tried to sell her account of what happened to the media. Mr Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 to keep quiet. |
| Hush money is not illegal but what has got Mr Trump into trouble is how Mr Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in his accounts. | |
| Mr Trump is accused of falsifying his business records in the first degree by saying the payment was for legal fees. | |
| Prosecutors have charged Mr Trump with felonies on the grounds that the alleged conduct was intended to aid another crime - violating election laws. | |
| The district attorney alleged on Tuesday that the payments were intended "to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election". | |
| The investigation is also looking into a $150,000 pay-off made on Mr Trump's behalf by the National Enquirer tabloid to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about an alleged affair with him. | The investigation is also looking into a $150,000 pay-off made on Mr Trump's behalf by the National Enquirer tabloid to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about an alleged affair with him. |
| In a statement of facts, the prosecutor also alleged pay-offs were made in late 2015 to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he said the former president had fathered out of wedlock. | |
| Is Trump going to jail if found guilty? | Is Trump going to jail if found guilty? |
| There will now be a trial, but we don't know when that will be. | |
| The next in-person court hearing for Mr Trump is set for 4 December in New York. | |
| The most likely outcome at the end of this legal process is a fine, but there is also a chance he could be sent to prison. | The most likely outcome at the end of this legal process is a fine, but there is also a chance he could be sent to prison. |
| Falsifying business records is usually prosecuted as a misdemeanour. | Falsifying business records is usually prosecuted as a misdemeanour. |
| But the charges against Mr Trump are all the lowest category of felony in New York, which carries a maximum prison sentence of four years per count. | But the charges against Mr Trump are all the lowest category of felony in New York, which carries a maximum prison sentence of four years per count. |
| Legal experts tell the BBC, however, that time behind bars is unlikely. | Legal experts tell the BBC, however, that time behind bars is unlikely. |
| Can Trump still run for president? | Can Trump still run for president? |
| Yes, there's nothing in the US constitution to prevent Mr Trump from continuing his election campaign now he is being charged. | Yes, there's nothing in the US constitution to prevent Mr Trump from continuing his election campaign now he is being charged. |
| Even if he was imprisoned, he could theoretically still run for president and win an election. | Even if he was imprisoned, he could theoretically still run for president and win an election. |
| But there are practical considerations. | But there are practical considerations. |
| A prolonged legal fight and a trial will be a major diversion from a presidential campaign - in time and energy, and the scheduling of election rallies. | A prolonged legal fight and a trial will be a major diversion from a presidential campaign - in time and energy, and the scheduling of election rallies. |
| What this could mean for 2024 election | What this could mean for 2024 election |
| This is a blow to America's sense of self | This is a blow to America's sense of self |
| Wasn't Trump investigated before? | Wasn't Trump investigated before? |
| Yes. He faced two major inquiries by Congress when he was president, called impeachments, but was acquitted by the US Senate both times. | Yes. He faced two major inquiries by Congress when he was president, called impeachments, but was acquitted by the US Senate both times. |
| Now he has left office he can no longer be impeached but instead can be indicted and faces a number of criminal investigations. | Now he has left office he can no longer be impeached but instead can be indicted and faces a number of criminal investigations. |
| They are continuing and we will hear more about them in the months ahead. | They are continuing and we will hear more about them in the months ahead. |
| How big are Trump's legal problems? | How big are Trump's legal problems? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Indictment of Donald Trump | Indictment of Donald Trump |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| United States | United States |