“Kevin O’Brien, a former assistant U.S. attorney, said the indictment of Mr. Trump is “serious on several levels, even if it winds up only being a misdemeanor charge.”
“First, Trump will have to appear as a defendant in court and answer criminal charges — for the first time,” he said. “He can spin as only he can, but the charges are solemn, public, and voted on by a body of his peers. Second, while Trump will move to dismiss on various grounds, the motions are unlikely to succeed and he will have to submit to a public trial if he wishes to vindicate himself. Third, the indictment may break the spell that has seemingly protected Trump for so long. Other criminal investigations are out there.”
