"An assault on democracy." "Garbage." "A political attack." These are the words of TexasA US state with a population of 29 million. senatorA politician who has been elected to a body called a Senate. In the US, one of the two houses of Congress is the Senate. Ancient Rome also had a senate and senators. Ted Cruz upon hearing of the charges against Donald Trump. Tomorrow, the former president of the USA will appear in court in MiamiThe second-largest city by population in the US state of Florida. , charged under the Espionage Act. 

Trump is expected to surrender to authorities on Tuesday and make his first appearance in a federal court. The charges include mishandling classified documents after removing them from the White HouseThe official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains. and storing them at his Mar-a-Lago home. Even more critically, he is also accused of refusing to hand them over when asked. If found guilty, Trump faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The indictmentA formal accusation that a suspect has committed a crime. of former president Trump, some say, is a reminder that no one is above the law, not even the president. It can also be seen as a reminder that the American justice system is independent and that the government can hold even the most powerful people accountable for their actions. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to plead not guilty. His lawyers have said that the charges are politically motivated and that Trump is the victim of a "witch hunt". 

But this indictment is only the latest in a series of legal troubles for Trump. He is also facing criminal charges in New York for allegedly falsifying business records and for attempting to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The charges against Trump are unprecedented in American history; no US president has ever been indicted - although several have faced legal troubles while in or out of office.

Richard Nixon was named an "unindicted co-conspirator" in 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 and Bill Clinton was impeachedIn the USA, formally accusing a public official of misconduct whilst in office. Three presidents - Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump - have been impeached by the House of Representatives. In all three cases, the Senate voted not to remove them. for perjuryThe crime of telling lies while under oath to tell the truth in a court of law. and obstruction of justiceDeliberately attempting to interfere with the justice system or a court process. .

It remains to be seen whether he will be convicted and sentenced to prison. And experts disagree on the impact the indictment will have on Trump's political career. Some suggest it will be a major blow, and may lead 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. to abandon him as a candidate for the 2024 presidential race.

Others point out that after Americans learned of Donald Trump's impending court appearance in April, he saw a surge of support in the polls. "For those who think this will harm President Trump's chances at running for the White House in 2024, I have news for you: it won't," said the leader of one Republican group at the time. 

In the UK, no British prime minister has ever been imprisoned. However, several have been accused of crimes and have faced legal challenges. On Friday, former prime minister Boris Johnson quit as an MPMember of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK. over claims he misled parliament about breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

It is too early to say whether Trump will end up in prison. Trump could, in theory, continue to run for office even if jailed. It would not be the first time it has happened. In 1920, Eugene V Debs ran for president while serving a 10-year sentence for giving an anti-war speech - and received nearly one million votes. For now, commentators say, the show is not over for The Donald.

Yes: If Trump is convicted, he could be sentenced to prison. This would make it very difficult for him to run for office again. Even if Trump is not convicted, the indictment could damage his reputation. 

No: Trump has a loyal following of supporters who are likely to remain loyal to him. And he is likely to use the possibility of an indictment to his advantage by portraying himself as a victim of a political witch hunt.

Or... The outcome of any legal proceedings against Trump is uncertain. He could be convicted or acquittedDeclared innocent of a crime or of wrongdoing.. Whilst the indictment is a serious threat to Trump, it is not certain that it will end his political career.