Donald Trump has been impeached in New York for allegedly covering up secret payments to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign and is he now faces criminal charges.
The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 charges in a brief hearing before flying back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Telegraph takes a look below at what happens next.
What happens after the arrest?
After the hearing, Trump flew back to Mar-a-Lago to address the nation following his impeachment.
In a room packed with his supporters and family members, Trump claimed he was the victim of election interference and lashed out at Alvin Bragg, the New York prosecutor who filed criminal charges against him.
“I never thought something like this could happen in the United States,” Trump said. “The only crime I have ever committed has been fearlessly defending our nation against those who seek to destroy it.”
When will the next hearing take place?
The next hearing is scheduled for December 4.
Where will the trial take place?
It is scheduled to be held in Manhattan, where he fared poorly in the 2020 presidential election, winning just 22.6 percent of the votes cast. His legal team wants the trial moved to the more conservative district of Staten Island.
Could Trump go to jail?
If convicted of felony falsifying business records to commit another crime, such as violating campaign finance laws, the former president faces a potential sentence of four years in prison.
But experts believe there is no chance, even if convicted on these charges, that Trump will be sent to prison. He has no criminal record and the alleged crimes are not violent.
Is this the end of your legal problems?
No. A Grand Jury in Georgia is looking into allegations that Trump tried to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in the state.
He was recorded asking Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, to “find” the 11,870 votes needed to reverse the result.
Jack Smith, a war crimes investigator, has been appointed special prosecutor tasked with examining the January 6 insurrection.
The use of “fake electors” from states Trump claims to have won, despite official results showing otherwise, is also being investigated.
In addition, the Justice Department is looking into his transfer of classified documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after he left office.
If convicted, could Trump still run for president?
Yes. The constitution does not prohibit a natural citizen over the age of 35 from running for the White House.
But there is a qualification.
the 14he The amendment, passed after the Civil War, contains a clause that prohibits anyone who “participates in the insurrection” from holding office.