Trump indicted in hush-money payment case by NY grand jury

WASHINGTON:Former U.S. President Donald Trump was indicted on Thursday for his role in an alleged hush-money payment to an adult film actress.

A statement from Trump lawyers Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles confirmed that the former president was indicted.

"He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court," the statement said.

How ever,Trump said that this is political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history.

Trump, 76, is said to be the first former U.S. president in American history to be indicted on criminal charges, which remain under seal.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office will reportedly reach out to Trump's attorneys to discuss his surrender to face an arraignment.

Bragg and his aides have been investigating Trump's alleged role in a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The payment of 130,000 U.S. dollars was said to be used to prevent Daniels from going public about an alleged sexual encounter that she had with Trump in 2006.

Then Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, before being reimbursed by the Trump Organization, which described the reimbursement as legal fees.

Cohen pleaded guilty to nine federal charges, including campaign finance violations, and was sentenced in late 2018 to three years in prison.

Trump, a Republican who won the 2016 White House race and served as U.S. president from 2017 to 2021, has denied that the affair happened, dismissed any wrongdoing, and charged that the inquiry is politically motivated.

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