Donald Trump will become the first US president since Ulysses S Grant to be arrested after a Manhattan grand jury voted Thursday to indict him on charges relating to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The bombshell indictment comes after the 45th president announced that he expecting to be arrested on earlier this month by New York authorities after his lawyers paid Daniels a total of $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged affair.
Trump, 76, has been dogged by legal scandals in recent years, but has never before been arrested in connection to any criminality.
He will be the first president to be put into handcuffs since 19th century leader Ulysses S. Grant was pulled over for speeding in his horse and buggy. The 18th president was pulled over by a police officer in 1876, with officer William West telling him: ‘Duty is duty sir, and I will have to place you under arrest.’
Trump, 76, has been dogged by legal problems for the past few years, but has never before been arrested in connection to any criminality
He is set to become first president to be put into handcuffs since Ulysses S. Grant was pulled over for speeding in his horse and buggy
A mother and child were reportedly injured by a joyrider, and police discovered the President was among the reckless riders in the area.
Grant was reportedly a ‘notorious speed demon’ who had previously been warned about his speed – and claimed that he didn’t know he was going too fast.
While his buggy did not have a speedometer, it was the second time he was caught racing around the roads in the capital and ultimately paid a $20 to walk free.
Despite the indictment announcement Thursday, Trump’s arrest in connection to the payments would not bar him becoming president and taking command of the White House again.
The only rules restricting who can run for the top job are that they are natural-born citizens of the US and over 35.
President Richard Nixon also came close to being arrested amid the infamous Watergate scandal after he conspired to cover up his administration’s involvement in the 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Supreme Court ruled that the recordings made on a taping system in the Oval office should be given to government investigators, with the House accusing Nixon of obstruction justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress in 1973.
He refused to be impeached and became the first president to resign from the role in August 1974 – leading to nearly 50 people being convicted of various illegal activities in relation to the conspiracy.
The 18th president was pulled over by a police officer in 1876, with officer William West telling him: ‘Duty is duty sir, and I will have to place you under arrest’
Trump also became the first president to have their home raided by the FBI, after they swooped on Mar-a-Lago in relation to classified files the former president had stashed at his Florida bolthole
President Richard Nixon also came close to being arrested after he conspired to cover up his administration’s involvement in the 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C
Nixon’s vice-president, Gerald Ford, pardoned Nixon – citing national unity – meaning that Congress lost its chance to hold him accountable.
However, following the move Congress passed the Presidential Records Act, which mandated how presidents and vice-presidents should manage their records.
It means that the Archivist of the United States assumes ownership of presidential records after one or two terms, and decides if a president is allowed to withhold documents.
Trump also became the first president to have their home raided by the FBI, after they swooped on Mar-a-Lago in relation to classified files the former president had allegedly stashed at his Florida bolthole.
The Archivist has been negotiating the return of the classified documents – with Trump facing the possibility of being disqualified from holding public office if he is found to have ‘willfully and unlawfully conceal or remove’ those documents’.
A spokesman for Trump said he is ‘rightfully highlighting his innocence and the weaponization of our injustice system’.
Trump’s lawyer said the former president continues to deny the substance of the allegations of a sexual relationship with Daniels (pictured with Trump), calling the $130,000 a ‘nuisance payment’ that wealthy or famous people sometimes pay to make a distracting situation disappear
Grant’s buggy did not have a speedometer, but it was the second time he was caught racing around the roads in the capital and ultimately paid a $20 to walk free
Nixon refused to be impeached and became the first president to resign from the role in August 1974 – leading to nearly 50 people being convicted of various illegal activities in relation to the conspiracy
Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House, said: ‘Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump.
‘I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.’
Last week the former president and 2024 hopeful was invited to testify before a Manhattan grand jury, with his long-time fixer and former lawyer Michael Cohen testifying on Monday.
Cohen served jail time after pleading guilty in two criminal cases, one of which included using campaign finances in relation to Daniels and another woman who allegedly had an affair with Trump.
He said he had been acting at his command and that the payoffs were supposed to keep the affair stories out of public knowledge before the 2016 election. Trump has admitted reimbursing Cohen
Daniels met with prosecutors on Wednesday to answer further questions in the case and her lawyer, Clark Brewster, said she would also make herself available as a witness in future, if required.
Cohen has also indicated he’s given the grand jury damning testimony that implicates Trump. He testified for three hours on Monday.
Daniels met with prosecutors on Wednesday to answer further questions in the case and tweeted her thanks to her attorney for ‘helping me in our continuing fight for truth and justice’
The Archivist is the one who has been negotiating the return of the classified documents – with Trump facing the possibility of being disqualified from holding public office if he is found to have ‘willfully and unlawfully conceal or remove’ those documents
