Ex-US president Donald Trump indicted over hush money

Former US President Donald Trump will face criminal charges over hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.

A grand jury has voted to indict Trump for the $130,000 payout made to Daniels in an attempt to buy her silence over an alleged affair.

The details of the case against him have not yet been released.

Trump denies wrongdoing but is expected to surrender to authorities and be arraigned in court on Tuesday. The charges in the indictment will be read to him at the hearing, which is set to last about 10-15 minutes.

The prosecution alleges that Trump falsified business records when he reimbursed his lawyer for the payment to Daniels, which is a misdemeanour in New York. Covering up a crime by falsifying records would be a felony, which is a more serious charge.

This case could shape the 2024 presidential race, as Trump is currently the front-runner among all declared and potential contenders for the Republican White House nomination.

The criminal case is just one of several investigations into Trump, including his role in the US Capitol riot of January 2021, his efforts to overturn his loss in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office.