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| Trump indictment: A simple guide to what it means | Trump indictment: A simple guide to what it means |
| (3 days later) | |
| Former US President Donald Trump is being charged with a crime in relation to a payment he made to a porn star. | Former US President Donald Trump is being charged with a crime in relation to a payment he made to a porn star. |
| The man who spent four years in the White House will be fingerprinted, given a mugshot photo and brought before a judge on Tuesday. | |
| This is happening as he campaigns to become president again, in the 2024 election. | This is happening as he campaigns to become president again, in the 2024 election. |
| Here is what the case is about. | Here is what the case is about. |
| What is the latest news? | |
| On Monday Mr Trump will travel from his Florida home to New York City ahead of his arrest and court appearance the next day. | |
| He is expected to be released on bail by the court and will return to his Mar-a-Lago home on Tuesday evening. | |
| 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. | |
| We don't yet know what those charges are. | We don't yet know what those charges are. |
| But for weeks the jury has been hearing evidence about a payment made to buy the silence of a porn star called Stormy Daniels. | But for weeks the jury has been hearing evidence about a payment made to buy the silence of a porn star called Stormy Daniels. |
| It happened before the 76-year-old was president, just prior to the 2016 election which he won against Hillary Clinton. | |
| What is a US grand jury? | What is a US grand jury? |
| What is Trump accused of? | What is Trump accused of? |
| Stormy Daniels says she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, which he has always denied. | Stormy 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 (£105,000) to keep quiet. That kind of payment is called hush money. | In 2016 she tried to sell her account of what happened to the media. Mr Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 (£105,000) to keep quiet. That kind of payment is called hush money. |
| That is not illegal but what has got Mr Trump into trouble is how Mr Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in his accounts. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the payment was for legal fees. | That is not illegal but what has got Mr Trump into trouble is how Mr Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in his accounts. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the payment was for legal fees. |
| As it happened just before Americans were due to vote, it may also violate laws about payments that help an election campaign. | As it happened just before Americans were due to vote, it may also violate laws about payments that help an election campaign. |
| There will now be a trial where Mr Trump will make his case, but we don't know when that will be. | |
| He has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. | He has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. |
| What happened between Stormy Daniels and Trump? | What happened between Stormy Daniels and Trump? |
| Who is the prosecutor charging Trump? | Who is the prosecutor charging Trump? |
| Is Trump going to jail if found guilty? | Is Trump going to jail if found guilty? |
| 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. | |
| If any of the charges are serious - what in the US is called a felony - then Mr Trump would face a maximum of four years in prison. | If any of the charges are serious - what in the US is called a felony - then Mr Trump would face a maximum of four years in prison. |
| But legal experts tell the BBC that time behind bars is unlikely. | But legal experts tell the BBC that time behind bars is unlikely. |
| This is what will happen when Trump is arrested | This is what will happen when Trump is arrested |
| 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 |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| United States | United States |