Former United States President Donald Trump was on Thursday indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan, New York.

Mr Trump, 76, was indicted by the jury for allegedly paying up to $130,000 in hush money to a porn star Stormy Daniels. The former U.S. leader allegedly had the affair with Ms Daniels and asked his lawyer Michael Cohen to pay the porn star to cover up the alleged affair. 

Mr Trump denied all allegations. But Mr Cohen, who was repeatedly convicted of perjury and was also disbarred for dishonesty, said Mr Trump refunded the money he paid to Ms Daniels. He also said the money came from election donations from Mr Trump. 

Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg has faced criticism for bringing the charges, which many said were previously dropped by federal authorities. Campaign finance violations are considered federal crimes in the U.S. and are tried by the Department of Justice, which declined to try Mr Trump on the current charges for insufficient evidence. 

Mr Bragg, a Democrat, has denied persecuting Mr Trump on political grounds. The case has drawn widespread criticism, mostly from Republicans, who saw it as politically motivated.

Mr Trump’s supporters said the case would help him expand his base ahead of the 2024 president elections. But Democrats said the matter showed the U.S. is a country of law and Mr Trump should not be treated differently.

It was not immediately clear when Mr Trump would turn himself into the authorities in Manhattan ahead of trial, which is the first for a former or sitting American president.