Former US President Donald Trump claims he will be arrested Tuesday as part of an investigation into a case in which he allegedly paid hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has called on his supporters to protest ahead of arrest attempts.
Here’s a timeline of events in this case since the controversy began over five years ago:
2018
January
The Wall Street Journal publishes details of how, weeks before the 2016 polls, Trump reportedly paid $130,000 to prevent Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, from going public about an alleged sexual encounter with him in 2006.
February
In a statement to the New York Times, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen says he paid Daniels $130,000 in a transaction that involved “neither the Trump organization nor the Trump campaign.”
March
Daniels is suing Trump over a non-disclosure agreement, citing the former president never signed a deal for her to keep quiet about their “intimate” relationship.
The now 44-year-old says on the CBS show 60 Minutes that she and Trump had sexual relations only once, but that she had seen him on other occasions and that he had kept in touch with her.
April
Speaking to reporters, Trump denies any knowledge of a payment to Daniels in exchange for her silence.
In a separate case, Daniels is filing a defamation lawsuit against Trump after he tweeted that her claims that she was threatened by a man over the affair was a “swindler.”
Be able to
In a series of tweets, Trump admits that Cohen made a payment to Daniels, but claims no campaign funds or contributions were used.
August
Cohen pleads guilty to campaign finance violations, tax evasion and other charges, saying he made payments to influence the 2016 election on “designation of a candidate for federal office.”
Cohen says he paid Daniels and nude model Karen McDougal $130,000 and $150,000 respectively at Trump’s request.
October
A California court dismisses Daniels’ defamation suit against Trump, ordering her to pay Trump’s attorney fees.
December
Cohen has been sentenced to three years behind bars and will report to prison in May 2019.
2019
February
In his congressional testimony, Cohen says Trump called him and asked him to mislead the public about hush money paid to Daniels and asked him to say the president had “no knowledge” of the payments.
Be able to
Judge James Otero, who presided over the defamation suit filed by Daniels, also dismissed her case against Trump for terminating the nondisclosure agreement.
July
A New York City court is unveiling documents related to Cohen’s case, showing Trump participated in efforts to keep alleged affairs secret, including those with Daniels, before the 2016 election.
2020
July
In a setback for the former president, the US Supreme Court has rejected Trump’s arguments for presidential immunity and ruled that a New York prosecutor can request his financial records.
Manhattan Attorney General Cyrus Vance Jr. and a House of Representatives committee subpoenaed Trump’s accounting firm Mazars USA LLP for 10 years of its financial records.
Trump slams the decision, arguing he is being treated unfairly and being persecuted for political reasons.
2022
March
Daniels loses her appeal in her 2018 defamation lawsuit and she is ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in attorney fees. Trump called the ruling “a total and complete victory and vindication.”
2023
March
The New York Times reports on March 9 that a grand jury has offered Trump the chance to testify — indicating that an investigation into the hush money case could soon end in a criminal case.
Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina confirms that the Manhattan district attorney has invited the former president to testify.
On March 18, Trump claims he will be arrested in the next few days. He calls on his supporters to protest.
