Trump indictment: Trump faces some 2 dozen counts, including felonies, sources say

Trump has become the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges.

Donald Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on Thursday, becoming the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges.

It was not immediately clear what the indictment was connected to, or what charges Trump will face. The indictment is under seal.

Trump is expected to surrender in New York City early this week, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.


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Trump faces around 2 dozen counts, including felonies, sources say

Former President Donald Trump has been charged with around two dozen counts, including felonies, sources familiar with the sealed indictment told ABC News.

The exact charges remain unknown since the indictment will not be unsealed until Trump appears in court on Tuesday.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment.


Senate sergeant at arms warns of potential demonstration activity

The Senate sergeant at arms is warning of potential demonstration activity related to the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

"While law enforcement is not tracking any specific, credible threats against the Capitol or state offices, there is potential for demonstration activity," an email obtained by ABC News said.

Capitol Police "is working with law enforcement partners, so you may observe a greater law enforcement presence on Capitol Hill," the email said, adding that there could be "nationwide impacts to Senate state offices."

The Capitol Police declined to comment and the sergeant at arms didn't immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

-ABC News' Luke Barr


Ivanka Trump speaks out

Former President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, reacted to the indictment on Instagram Friday, writing, "I love my father, and I love my country. Today, I am pained for both."

She added, "I appreciate the voices across the political spectrum expressing support and concern."


How DA could use hush money payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal to bolster Trump case

Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News the Manhattan district attorney’s office is also investigating a $150,000 payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, who, like Stormy Daniels, claimed to have had an affair with Donald Trump.

The former president has denied having an affair with either woman and has called the investigation a witch hunt.

McDougal was paid for the rights to her story in August 2016 by American Media, publisher of the National Enquirer, which did not publish it, a practice known as catch and kill.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, has said he recorded Trump discussing reimbursement to American Media for the payment to McDougal, but the payment was never made.

Trump has not responded to ABC News' request for comment but in a 2018 interview with Fox News, he claimed he wasn't aware of any payment made to AMI to facilitate the alleged hush agreement.


America split on Trump indictment: Poll

While 45% of Americans believe former President Donald Trump should face charges in an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, 32% say he shouldn't have been indicted, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll.

Another 23% of American say they don't know whether the nation's 45th president should face charges.

While the charges have not been announced, a Manhattan grand jury that indicted Trump had been hearing evidence in a $130,000 hush money payment Trump allegedly made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims they had an affair. Trump has denied the allegations.

The poll showed a split in opinions along party lines. While 88% of Democrats said Trump should face charges, 62%, of Republicans said the former president should not have been charged while 16% said he should be charged, and the remainder was uncertain.

About 47% of Americans polled say the charges are politically motivated, echoing the sentiment from top GOP figures. About 79% of Republicans hold that view.

-ABC News' Brittany Shepherd