To slightly misquote Oscar Wilde: one indictmentA formal accusation that a suspect has committed a crime. may be regarded as a misfortune; two looks like carelessness. And what about three?

It might look like a record win for someone competing to be the president with the most criminal counts in history. Even more so if they have also faced two impeachmentsIn the United States, as in the UK and many other countries, elected representatives have the power to call for officials to be removed from office for committing a public offence. This is called 'impeachment'. and a number of civil lawsuits.

On Tuesday afternoon, former and would-be future president Donald Trump was indicted for the third time this year, this time on federalIn the USA laws are made both by individual states and the federal government, which governs all states together. charges related to an attempt to subvert the 2020 election.

Another indictment? It has become an overlookable piece of news, say some. But experts say that this one is different.

It "defines the future of American democracy," announce commentators. Trump's last indictments concerned hush money and classified documents, neither of which particularly capture the imagination. But this one means something to everyone.

According to the indictment, Donald Trump deliberately misled the American public to believe that there had been fraud in the 2020 national election as part of a conspiracyA secret plan to do something unlawful or harmful. against him, despite knowing that this was a lie. It alleges that this was part of a criminal plot to steal the election and subvertUndermine the power of someone or something, or destroy something. democracy. But will this really be as game-changing as people say?

Despite his many scandals, Trump is far and away the front-runner for the Republican PartyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum. 2024 nomination, with an unbelievable 37-point lead over Ron DeSantis, his closest rival. In the event of his winning the nomination, early polling places him at just 2% under Joe Biden in the November 2024 general election.¹

One of democracy's key values is that power should not be taken by force. But that, some allege, is exactly what Trump tried to do. So how has it taken America, the so-called leader of the free world, three years to do anything about it?

Some say this is a perfect illustration of the US' increasing hostility to free democracy. Trump's huge popularity may support this idea. If he wins the next election, he will be able to pardon himself instantly, renderingCausing something to become. even the process of justice redundant.

And even if he gets convicted, some point out, there is no law that he could not be elected to serve a second term as president from prison.

Yes: Presidents have had such scandals before - most comparably WatergateOne of the largest scandals in modern political history concerning President Nixon. Two journalists were pivotal in breaking the story: Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.. But democracy is one of America's most important founding principles, and it will always survive.

No: This is a death knell for America's democracy. The fact that so many people are still willing to vote for someone who essentially tried to take their ability to vote away is shocking.

Or... It remains to be seen whether this indictment will change anything. If Trump continues to garner this kind of support then it is fair to say that democracy is seriously under threat. But he will very plausibly be toppled by this.