Donald Trump is the first former US president to be charged with a crime.

The 76-year-old Republican's historic indictment, which comes despite his denial of any wrongdoing in relation to the payments made before the election that put him in the White House, is guaranteed to upend the current presidential contest in which Trump intends to win back the White House.

And it will eternally symbolize the memory of the former president, who overcame two impeachments, resisted prosecution in cases involving the US Capitol riot and missing confidential documents, only to find herself in court for a sex scandal involving adult film star Stormy Daniels, 44.

Trump's attorney Susan Necheles told AFP she anticipates arraignment to take place on Tuesday of the following week.

Trump's attorneys were contacted Thursday night to "arrange his surrender" in New York, with the criminal accusations against him to be made public at that time, according to the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.

Trump blasted the indictment as "political persecution and electoral meddling," lashing out at the police and his Democratic rivals while threatening his successor, Joe Biden, with the consequences.

As reported by CNN, surrendering for arraignment over up to 30 counts of corporate fraud would typically include being fingerprinted, photographed, and sometimes even handcuffed.

In the Republican camp, Trump's allies and sons blasted the indictment as "un-American," while his anticipated opponent for the party's nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, blasted it as a vendetta meant to destroy his 2024 campaign.

The top Republican in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, claimed that the indictment had "irreparably destroyed" the nation. Mike Pence, a potential rival to Trump in 2024, termed it a "outrage" that will only "further serve to divide" the country.

Adam Schiff, the top Democrat and the prosecutor in Trump's first impeachment attempt in 2019, termed it "a frightening and unprecedented development," nevertheless.

In a statement, Schiff stated that the indictment and arrest of a former president were unprecedented in American history. But the illegal behavior for which Trump is accused is also criminal.

Daniels welcomed the change with her trademark panache.

"I can't react since there are so many messages flooding in...

Along with promoting her #TeamStormy goods, she tweeted, "also don't want to spill my champagne.

On March 18, Trump said he anticipated to be arrested soon for paying Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about a tryst she claims they had ten years earlier. Daniels got the money weeks before the election that put Trump in office.
Trump predicted his indictment and simultaneously called for protests, expressing concern that it may result in "possible murder & destruction" that "could be disastrous for our Country."

His remarks put New York on edge for potential demonstrations, but the likelihood of an immediate indictment seemed to fade as the grand jury panel went on to hear testimony — until Thursday.

Although there were a few anti-Trump protestors and a media throng outside the district attorney's office, the environment was otherwise calm.

In 2019, Trump's ex-attorney Michael Cohen, who has testified before the grand jury, told Congress that he paid Daniels on the president's behalf and was subsequently reimbursed.

Prosecutors contended the checks were not properly reported, and the jury was asked to examine if there had been a cover-up, intended to benefit Trump’s campaign by burying the problem.

Of of the three significant investigations involving the former president, the New York investigation is the first to make a judgment on charges.

In addition, Trump is under criminal investigation in Georgia for the 2020 election and in Washington for the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which was carried out by the former president's followers who wanted to keep him in office following his loss to Joseph Biden.