Reactions to the indictment of Donald Trump

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first former US president to face criminal charges.

The charges arise from an investigation led by Democratic Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg. The specific charges are not yet known and the indictment will likely be announced in the coming days, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Below is reaction to news of the indictment:

FORMER REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER: “Today is a sombre day for our nation. Donald Trump committed many crimes, but this indictment should be a reminder that in America, NO ONE is above the law. We must move forward and let justice prevail. The anti-democratic threat, however, hasn’t diminished.”

TRUMP’S FORMER LAWYER RUDY GIULIANI ON TWITTER: “The 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has been indicted by a Grand Jury in New York following District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s irresponsible and politically-motivated efforts to take him down. A sad day for America.”

REPUBLICAN US REPRESENTATIVE JIM JORDAN ON TWITTER: “Outrageous”.

DEMOCRATIC US REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF ON TWITTER: “The indictment of a former president is unprecedented. But so too is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been engaged. A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. Especially when they do. To do otherwise is not democracy.”

MICHAEL COHEN, FORMER LAWYER TO TRUMP, ON MSNBC: “Today’s indictment is not the end of the chapter, it is just the beginning … Accountability really matters.”

REPUBLICAN US SENATOR TED CRUZ ON TWITTER: “The Democrat Party’s hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. The ‘substance’ of this political persecution is utter garbage. This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponisation of the justice system.”