A very special thread: Trump's 34-count indictment!

The Manhattan district attorney surprised everyone. Republicans are predictably defending Trump, though they've seen no indictment. Trump is already threatening chaos.

UPDATE, 8: 41 a.m. ET, Friday: I wrote some more thoughts in a new post, based on the Wall Street Journal’s excellent reporting, which includes many new details not previously reported. (WSJ is behind a strict paywall.) It really explains this case and what Bragg is really looking at—far beyond Stormy Daniels.

What does it mean that Donald Trump became the first former president of the United States to be indicted? Surely, a historic, monumental event. I have my own thoughts and will lay them out in this post. But I want to hear from all of you as well.

And what is in the indictment? No one knows for sure, as it won’t be unsealed until he surrenders — love that word! — and is arraigned, some time next week.

But it is reported to be an indictment that is more than 30 counts, which means Republicans defending him could be caught off guard. Governor Ron DeSantis has already said he won’t extradite Trump from Florida — a violation of the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause — but Trump’s lawyer says he will turn himself in.

Trump is railing on Truth Social — where he predicted earlier in the week that the grand jury had decided against indicting him. Oops!