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.
Latest headlines:
- America split on Trump indictment: Poll
- Trump expected to travel to New York on Monday
- Why Trump indictment might hinge on a 'novel legal theory'
- Trump faces around 2 dozen counts, including felonies, sources say
- Ivanka Trump speaks out
- Trump has 'never been held accountable,' Cohen says
- Trump expected to surrender in New York early next week: Sources
Judge signs order allowing DA to publicly acknowledge indictment
Judge Juan Merchan has signed this order allowing the Manhattan district attorney's office to publicly acknowledge the indictment.
Bragg's office calls on House GOP to 'denounce attacks'
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Friday again resisted the House GOP investigation of his office’s prosecution of Trump.
Bragg’s legal counsel called the inquiry “illegitimate incursion” into a legitimate investigation.
The House Republicans -- Reps. Jim Jordan, James Comer and Bryan Steil -- have said they want to find evidence of federal funds used to investigate Trump. But Bragg’s office said they were merely doing Trump’s bidding.
“Finally, as you are no doubt aware, former President Trump has directed harsh invective against District Attorney Bragg and threatened on social media that his arrest or indictment in New York may unleash 'death & destruction.' As Committee Chairmen, you could use the stature of your office to denounce these attacks and urge respect for the fairness of our justice system and for the work of the impartial grand jury," counsel Leslie Dubeck wrote in a letter to the lawmakers.
"Instead, you and many of your colleagues have chosen to collaborate with Mr. Trump’s efforts to vilify and denigrate the integrity of elected state prosecutors and trial judges and made unfounded allegations that the Office’s investigation, conducted via an independent grand jury of average citizens serving New York State, is politically motivated.”
Biden repeatedly declines to comment
President Joe Biden repeatedly declined to comment on the indictment when leaving the White House Friday morning to head to Mississippi.
Asked by ABC News if he had any reaction, Biden said, "No," and shook his head.
Reporters tried to get the president to comment on the issue from several different angles, but Biden did not bite each time.
Biden was asked if he was worried the indictment would further divide the country, and he said, "I have no comment on that."
Asked if he was worried about protests, Biden replied, "No, I'm not going to talk about the Trump indictment."
Later asked what the indictment said about the rule of law in this country, Biden said, "I have no comment at all on Trump."
Biden learned about the indictment through the news at the same time as the rest of the country, according to the White House press secretary.
Vice President Kamala Harris also declined to comment during a press conference in Lusaka, Tanzania.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Secret Service, NYPD, other agencies to conduct walk-through of courts building
The NYPD, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and New York State Court officers will meet on Friday to coordinate next week’s surrender of former President Donald Trump, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Representatives from the agencies will also conduct a walk-through of the criminal courts building.
The 15th floor, where presiding Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom is located, is already blocked off.
Grand jury won't meet about Trump case this week, sources say
The grand jury hearing evidence of former President Donald Trump’s alleged role in hush money paid to Stormy Daniels will not meet about the case for the remainder of the week, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The grand jury is meeting Thursday to consider a different case, the sources said. The grand jury news was first reported by Business Insider.
The grand jury is expected to reconvene Monday to consider the Trump case, at which time at least one additional witness may be called to testify, the sources said.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment.
It is not uncommon for grand juries to sit in consideration of multiple cases at once.