Former President Donald Trump indicted by New York grand jury

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NEW YORK (AP) — A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump in the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president.

The indictment, confirmed Thursday by Joe Tacopina, a lawyer for Trump, and other people familiar with the matter, is an extraordinary development after years of investigations into his business, political and personal dealings. It is likely to embolden supporters who feel the Republican is being unfairly targeted by a Democratic prosecutor.

Tacopina said in a statement: “He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.”

Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly attacked the investigation as politically motivated, was expected to surrender to authorities next week, though the details were still being worked out, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss a matter that remained under seal.

In bringing the charges, the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, is embracing an unusual case that had been investigated by two previous sets of prosecutors, both of which declined to take the politically explosive step of seeking Trump’s indictment.

In the weeks leading up to the indictment, Trump railed about the investigation on social media and urged supporters to protest on his behalf, prompting tighter security around the Manhattan criminal courthouse.

Trump has long decried the Manhattan investigation as “the greatest witch hunt in history.”