5 major conclusions from the announcement of the Trump indictment

A New York grand jury has indicted former president Donald Trump for his part in hiding the hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

The office of District Attorney Alvin Bragg declared that it has gotten in touch with Donald Trump's lawyer "to coordinate his surrender" for questioning.

The accusations against Trump and the grand jury's indictment are still secret, and NPR hasn't been able to confirm other media reports that the district attorney would arraign Trump on Tuesday.

These are five things to be aware of about recent news.

1. For months, the grand jury has been looking into Trump.

According to Kim Wehle, a former U.S. attorney who is currently a law professor at the University of Baltimore, Trump will likely be charged with a violation of New York penal code 175.10, fabricating business documents in the first degree.

Wehle said on NPR's All Things Considered, "It's extremely serious, even if the charge itself doesn't reach the heights that some people might expect from a former president."

Stormy Daniels, a porn star, agreed to a deal struck by Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen in which he agreed to pay her $130,000 in exchange for her silence on a rumored affair with the president.

That money was given to Daniels by Cohen less than two weeks before the election. Then, following his victory, Trump paid Cohen back, including with his own personal checks. While acknowledging paying Cohen back for money given to Daniels, Trump has denied having an affair with her.

It is untrue what the Trump Organization claimed—that the reimbursement payments were for legal costs. According to Wehle, if something is done to hide another offense in New York, in this case most likely a violation of campaign financing regulations, it is a felony.

Falsifying business records is a Class E felony that carries a maximum four-year jail sentence, according to Wehle.

2. Trump was asked to give himself up, but it's unknown if he will.

A representative for Bragg said in a statement late on Thursday that the office has gotten in touch with Trump's lawyer to "arrange his surrender."

When the arraignment date is decided, guidance will be given, the spokeswoman added.

Trump may still be in Florida, but NPR hasn't been able to independently confirm this. After the 757's voyage to West Palm Beach five days ago, none of two trustworthy flight trackers has detected any movement on his private aircraft.

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, however, stated on Twitter that, should it come to that, his state will not assist in the arrest and extradition of the former president. This was in response to the announcement of the DA's plea for Trump to surrender.

DeSantis is widely seen as a top 2024 Republican presidential contender and a threat to Trump's reelection attempt, despite the fact that he has not yet declared his candidacy.

DeSantis told reporters earlier this month that he wouldn't participate in the spectacle "in any way."

According to a report from POLITICO, he remarked, "I have no interest in becoming involved in some type of contrived spectacle by some Soros DA," referring to the campaign contributions made by billionaire George Soros. He is attempting to create a political spectacle. I have pressing matters to attend to in the state of Florida.

3. The indictment, according to Trump and the GOP, is political retaliation.

In a statement on Thursday, the former president referred to the Manhattan grand jury's decision to prosecute him as "political persecution" and "election meddling."

The statement on his website states, "The Democrats have lied, cheated, and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable - indicting a wholly innocent individual in an act of obvious Election Interference.

Republicans across the board agreed with this viewpoint, supporting Trump's campaign theme of being a political martyr.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel termed the investigation a "blatant abuse of power from a DA fixated on political retribution," while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted that Bragg had "irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election."

Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House judiciary committee from Ohio, said just "outrageous" in his remarks.

Jordan sent Bragg a letter earlier this month demanding documents, communications, and testimony related to his investigation into the former president. Jordan's letter was sent along with those of House Oversight Committee Chair Jim Comer, R-Ky., and House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis.

Republican requests for its records and testimony were described by Bragg's office as "an extraordinary inquiry into a pending local case" in their response.

4. Democrats and those involved in the investigation claim that it's about accountability.

Democrats likewise coalesced around a party slogan, but theirs was that blind justice was necessary, best encapsulated by the expression "no one is above the law."

According to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, "no one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence."

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a former impeachment manager, stated that "a nation of laws must hold the affluent and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office, especially when they do."

Although stating that the indictment demonstrates that "no one is above the law," Cohen, Trump's former attorney and a crucial witness in the case, paused to solicit input before asking for the issue to be settled in court.

The indictment should speak for itself in this matter now that charges have been brought, according to Cohen. The two things I want to stress right now are that accountability is important and that I stand by the information I gave [the New York district attorney] during my testimony and in support of it.

According to Clark Brewster, the attorney for the adult film actress whose case served as the catalyst for the investigation, the indictment "is no cause for rejoicing."

He tweeted, "The grand jurors' diligent work and conscientiousness must be honored. "Let justice and truth now reign supreme."

Daniels gave a brief response of "Thank you."

5. Trump's legal issues might just be just getting started after this.

It's important to keep in mind that Trump is also under investigation for other matters, which could result in additional charges, given the speed and importance of current news cycle.

The pressure campaign Trump and his associates used in the days and weeks following the 2020 presidential election is the focus of a case in Fulton County, Georgia.

The Justice Department is looking into Trump's role in sparking the attack on January 6 and has spoken with many of his supporters and advisers.

Moreover, the Justice Department has launched a second inquiry into Trump after discovering a cache of secret documents.

When charges, if any, would result from these investigations is unknown.