Trump Indictment Live Update and Reactions: Manhattan Grand Jury Vote to Indict Ex-President in Hush Fees Inquiry

Manhattan, New York (WABC) — Former President Donald Trump Indicted Thursday by a lower Manhattan grand jury.

Trump became the first ex-president to face criminal charges.

New York City prosecutors are investigating money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep women from publicizing allegations they had sexual relations with him. Did.

The indictment has been sealed and the exact nature of the charges has not been disclosed.

Trump, who is running for the White House again in 2024, called the Manhattan grand jury’s decision to indict him “political persecution and election interference at the highest level.”

Watch | Eyewitness Testimony in Trump Indictment

Here are the latest updates:

Pence, DeSantis and 2024 rivals or potential rivals react

Several of Trump’s staunch or potential rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination were among those who spoke out Thursday night following news of the former president’s indictment.

In an interview with CNN Thursday night, Former Vice President Mike Pence called it ‘anger’ He said the lawsuit against Trump was “thin” and “will only further divide our country.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to launch a presidential campaign by ABC News in the next few months, sources said. ”

Schumer: ‘Trump obeys the same laws as all Americans’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement following the former president’s indictment, urging Trump’s critics and supporters to follow the law and proceed peacefully. .

“Trump is subject to the same laws as all Americans,” Schumer said. “He will be able to use the legal system and juries, not politics, to decide his fate according to the facts and the law.”

House Speaker McCarthy vows to hold Manhattan DA accountable

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in a tweet that House Republicans will use their power to hold Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accountable for “and his unprecedented abuse of power.”

“The American public will not tolerate this injustice,” McCarthy said, adding that Bragg “was armed with our hallowed justice system against President Donald Trump.”

House Republicans said the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office demanded documents and testimony in their investigation of Mr. Trump, but Mr. Bragg would not comply.

Related: Republicans react to Trump’s indictment

NYPD officers to be deployed in city on Friday

After being indicted All officers at the New York Police Department have been ordered to appear He was in uniform for a deployment around New York City on Friday morning, a police source told ABC News.

According to the mayor’s office, there are no credible threats.

Trump expected to surrender in New York early next week: sources

The former president is expected to surrender in New York early next week, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News.

No date has been confirmed, but sources say Tuesday is the date being discussed by Trump’s legal team and the DA’s office.

DA office contacted Trump’s attorneys ‘to coordinate his surrender’

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said in a statement that it had contacted former President Donald Trump’s attorneys “to coordinate his surrender” regarding the arraignment of the state Supreme Court indictment.

“Guidance will be provided when an arraignment date is selected,” the office said.

NYPD officers to be deployed in city on Friday

Following the indictment, all officers at the New York Police Department were ordered to show up in uniform for deployments around New York City on Friday morning, police sources told ABC News.

According to the mayor’s office, there are no credible threats.

Trump indictment marks unprecedented moment in presidential history

The indictment of Donald Trump marks an unprecedented development in the history of the country – it’s the first time a former president has faced criminal charges.

Historians say there has been no real prospect of a commander-in-chief formally being indicted for a crime since Richard Nixon, but Nixon avoided that fate after being pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. rice field.

Trump says ABC News indictment is ‘attack on our country’

Former President Donald Trump told ABC News in a phone call that the indictments were “an attack on our country.”

He called this “political persecution” and added that “they are trying to influence the election.”

Trump in statement Thursday He called himself a “completely innocent person” facing “blatant election sabotage”.

Trump said, “Our movement, and our party, unitedly strong, we will beat Alvin Bragg first, then Joe Biden, and we’ll beat these crooked Democrats.” I’m going to expel the last one of the.” So we can make America great again! ”

“He has not committed any crimes and we will vigorously fight this political indictment in court,” Trump’s attorney said in a statement Thursday.

“This is weaponized justice at its worst,” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. said on a podcast Thursday.

Watch | ABC News’ Complete Special Report on Trump’s Indictment

In its indictment, the Manhattan District Attorney is tapping an unusual case investigated by two previous sets of prosecutors who refused to take politically explosive steps to seek an indictment of Trump.

In the weeks leading up to the indictment, Trump denounced the investigation on social media, urged supporters to protest on his behalf, and stepped up security around Manhattan’s Criminal Court.

ABC News contributed to this report

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