Donald Trump responded to a Manhattan grand jury's indictment.
Early Thursday evening, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict the former president regarding an alleged settlement made with adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the former president’s 2016 campaign, according to five people with knowledge of the matter per the New York Times.
Trump and Daniels allegedly had a sexual encounter in 2006, according to the claim.
"This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," the former president wrote in a statement. "From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower ... the Radical Left Democrats ... have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement."
Trump referenced previous efforts to indict him, including claims the former president had ties to Russia, two impeachment attempts, and last year's raid on Mar-a-Lago.
"The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference."
"Never before in our Nation's history has this been done," Trump continued. "Weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President has never happened before."
"I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden," Trump concluded. "The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it."
Trump followed up his response in a Truth Social post:These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!
"This evening we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal," said a spokesperson for New York district attorney Alvin Bragg. "Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected."
In a March 18 Truth Social post, Trump said he would be arrested on the 21st and called for people to protest and “take our nation back.”
Bragg delayed the grand jury's vote several times though informed them to be on standby for Thursday.
Trump is reportedly expected to surrender to the Manhattan district attorney's office early next week, according to the former president's attorney Joe Tacopina. The former president's attorneys are also in talks with prosecutors and expecting Trump to be arraigned next week, per NBC News.
A lawyer for the former president confirmed his indictment shortly after the initial announcement, the Associated Press reported.
Trump is the first former president in American history to face criminal charges after office.
