Former President Donald Trump was indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 felony charges of business fraud and falsifying New York business records in the first degree
March 30.

Prosecutors allege that Trump helped execute a “catch and kill” scheme where individuals identified, purchased, and buried negative information about him to boost his electoral prospects before the 2016 election. Prosecutors claim that Trump was supported by his longtime attorney Michael Cohen and tabloid executive David Pecker.

Trump pleaded not guilty April 4 to the charges, and he and his supporters have since claimed that these accusations were politically motivated in an attempt to damage his presidential reputation. Indeed, there is no denying that this case could have dire consequences on his political future as he becomes the first current or former United States President to ever face criminal charges.

“The People of the State of New York allege that Donald J. Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” said Bragg in a press release. “Manhattan is home to the country’s most significant business market. We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct.”

CBS News reports that prosecutors outlined Trump’s alleged role in orchestrating hush money payments to women who claimed they had extramarital affairs with Trump.

Although the payments themselves are not illegal by any federal law, Attorney Bragg accuses Trump of giving Cohen monthly reimbursement payments and using his records to cover up this unlawful activity. For his evidence, he cites that Trump consistently made false statements about the 2016 election. Additionally, Bragg also charges Trump for breaching the New York election and federal campaign finance law.

In addition to these allegations from New York, Trump faces further legal investigations concerning classified documents found at his Florida estate and whether he and allies potentially interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia.

Despite these counts, Trump’s attorneys remain confident in his ability to escape trial, claiming that the prosecutors have a weak argument with “no facts” to support their case.

Regardless of whether or not Trump will be convicted, this trial could have lasting effects on the American legal system. It is likely that in the near future presidents and other lawmakers will be taken much more seriously for their alleged crimes and accusations.