JTFmax Politics:

What the lawsuit means for Trump's candidacy

It's a political tremor that is shaking the entire U.S. and reverberating around the world!

A "grand jury" convened in New York to consider possible crimes have decided: former President Donald Trump (76) will be criminally indicted!

The investigation initiated by prosecutor Alvin Bragg (49) thus became historic: never before in the 246-year history of the United States has a president, in office or after, been indicted.

The judicial drama shakes to it the started election campaign for the 2024 presidential elections: Trump is currently the favorite among Republicans, and the political consequences of the impeachment are complex.

It will be turbulent days for the United States, even if currently only the contours of the coming proceedings can be discerned: According to "CNN," Trump is also charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Porn actress Stormy Daniels said she had an affair with Donald Trump between 2006 and 2007

The investigations were mainly about a hush money payment to an alleged ex-affair, porn star Stormy Daniels (44), and possible violations of campaign contribution laws. However, the statement of the claim remains under judicial seal. Therefore, it is to be read out only on Tuesday. Then also, the former president will appear before the court.

The procedure is expected to be handled in the New York courthouse: Trump would be fingerprinted, DNA samples would be taken, and an arrest photo ("mugshot") would be taken. Then it's off to the U-judge. After that, Trump would likely be released.

A detail that illustrates how unique all these procedures will be: "Secret Service" agents, who guard every ex-president for the rest of his life, will stay by his side throughout the arrest thriller.

The arrest, complete with mugshot, might even help him - at least in the short term! Trump has already rallied his supporters behind him with holdout slogans.

In the intra-party primary campaign for the Republican nomination, "the impact would be manageable," says political scientist Jonathan Cristol to BILD: "His supporters are ironclad behind him, no matter what!" Indeed: most recently, Trump has been gaining in opinion polls.

Trump supporters demonstrate outside his Mar-a-Lago (Florida) estate following the indictment.

In the long run, however, Trump's judicial problems could hurt his re-election chances, as swing voters in particular "could jump ship because of the constant drama," Cristol says.

New York could be just the beginning of a possible wave of indictments. Investigations are also underway in the U.S. state of Georgia because of the attempt to manipulate the election. And above all, in Washington, because of a suspected incitement to violence before his supporters stormed the Capitol (Jan. 6, 2021) and possible breaches of the law in the concealment of secret documents

On top of that, more embarrassing details could emerge at the New York trial because it was reported that also because a second ex-affair was investigated, with ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal (52). She had received $150,000 in hush money to keep her alleged affair with Trump secret.

 Prosecutor Alvin Bragg will fight through charges in Trump's trial.

If Trump is convicted, he could still run for president in 2024. That's because the U.S. Constitution only requires that the head of state be born in America, older than 35, and have lived in the country for at least 14 years.

In an initial reaction, Trump lamented the unique "witch hunt" that would be conducted against him. Next, he condemned the charges as "political persecution and election interference at the highest historical level." Then a declaration of war: He would defeat all of them, Prosecutor Bragg, President Joe Biden, and other "corrupt Democrats."

But he should not overdo it with the attacks, especially against the judiciary, say experts: the court could impose a so-called "gag order," practically muzzle Donald Trump ...