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 classifiedInformation that is labelled as top secret, only to be shared with certain people. documents, neither of which particularly capture the imagination. But the storming of the US CapitolThe building in Washington DC where the US Congress meets. It was named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome. in January 2021, which is set to be key in the indictment, created scenes which every American remembers.

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 conspiracy 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.

It has already been described as "one of the most consequentialImportant. Having serious consequences. documents in American history." Its four counts include "conspiracy to defraud the United States", "conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding", "obstruction of and attempt to obstructImpede or get in the way of. an official proceeding", and "conspiracy against rights." But will it really be as game-changing as people say?

The first president to ever be arrested was President Ulysses S Grant in 1872 - for speeding on a horse and cart. His successors have tried their hands at slightly more sordidImmoral or dishonourable. crimes. From the 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. scandal which toppled two consecutive presidents¹ to President Bill Clinton's sexual harassment suit, Trump is by no means the first leader of the free world to be miredTo be involved in a difficult or challenging situation. in ignominyPublic embarrassment or shame. .

But just as Bill Clinton's scandals served to boost his popularity, some think that Trump's record may even increase his appeal to voters.

Not that he needs much of a boost. 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.²

After all, he has cooked up an award-winning narrative. "They're not indicting me, they're indicting you. I just happen to be standing in their way," he tells voters. By pandering to the disillusioned and politically disenfranchisedDeprived of privileges. One example is the right to vote. , he has transformed himself from scheming criminal to doggedDetermined and having lots of persistence. scapegoatA person who is made to take the blame for the wrongdoings of others. The term originates from a ceremony during the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, in which the sins of the people were symbolically placed upon a goat. The goat was then sent into the wilderness. for a strong core of voters who see themselves represented in his anti-institutional ideals.

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: As the article pointed out, presidents have had such scandals before - most comparably Watergate. 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 allegedly 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.

Indictment - A formal accusation that a suspect has committed a crime.

Impeachments - In 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'.

Federal - In the USA laws are made both by individual states and the federal government, which governs all states together.

Classified - Information that is labelled as top secret, only to be shared with certain people.

Capitol - The building in Washington DC where the US Congress meets. It was named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome.

Subvert - Undermine the power of someone or something, or destroy something.

Consequential - Important. Having serious consequences.

Obstruct - Impede or get in the way of.

Sordid - Immoral or dishonourable.

Watergate - One of the largest scandals in modern political history concerning President Nixon. Two journalists were pivotal in breaking the story: Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

Mired - To be involved in a difficult or challenging situation.

Ignominy - Public embarrassment or shame.

Republican Party - Also 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.

Disenfranchised - Deprived of privileges. One example is the right to vote.

Dogged - Determined and having lots of persistence.

Scapegoat - A person who is made to take the blame for the wrongdoings of others. The term originates from a ceremony during the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, in which the sins of the people were symbolically placed upon a goat. The goat was then sent into the wilderness.

Rendering - Causing something to become.