Former President Donald Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury on Thursday, becoming the first-ever former US president to face criminal charges. The indictment remains sealed, but prosecutors were widely expected to pursue a misdemeanor falsifying business records charge against him in relation to hush money payments made prior to the 2016 presidential election.
The news sparked mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle on Twitter. Comedian Kathy Griffin, author Stephen King and Star Trek star George Takei all expressed their joy at the news while other celebrities showed support for Trump.
Top Republicans from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have rallied around Trump following his indictment, attacking the probe as “political persecution”. McCarthy targeted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a tweet, accusing him of “routinely” freeing “violent criminals to terrorize the public,” while House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan responded with a one-word tweet.
Two of Donald Trump's children also weighed in on the indictment on Twitter. Eric Trump called it "third world prosecutorial misconduct," while Donald Trump Jr claimed his father’s opponents are "willing to turn us into a Banana Republic" to stop him.
Sources close to Donald Trump suggest that he is facing more than 30 criminal charges in relation to various investigations currently underway. Despite this, he continues his push towards running for president again in 2024 and claims that "this Witch-Hunt will backfire on Democrats."