An N.Y. grand jury made history last night when they indicted former president Donald Trump for unspecified crimes. This is the first time in history that a United States commander-in-chief, who is most likely about to run for president in 2024, was charged with a crime or crimes.

Former president Trump is expected to surrender to authorities this afternoon. He strongly denies any wrongdoing.

The sealed indictment holds a charge or charges of crime or crimes against the former president, that are unknown to the public at this time.

However, it is public knowledge that a grand jury has been listening to evidence about alleged hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, who claims she was given the money to keep quiet about a sexual liaison with Trump before the 2016 residential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his investigators spent numerous months looking into Trump’s actions, looking for fraudulent business and alleged hidden documents that were connected to the hush money from the former president to Daniels.

The indictment arrives at a time of upheaval in the US and a sharp political divide between the two major American parties, with Republicans vs. Democrats sparring over abortion, guns and immigration laws.

Currently, Trump is campaigning for president and touring the US with a solid lead as the top contender among Republicans. Simultaneously, Trump is the subject of numerous investigations including the hush money to Daniels, his behavior before and during the January 6 deadly attack on Capitol Hill, and the classified documents taken from the White House to his home in Mar-a-Lago after he left office.

But does being charged with crimes make Trump ineligible to run for president in 2024? No.

Trump has strongly denied breaking any laws and can legally run for office regardless. Indeed, numerous Republicans believe the charge may help him win the election, since Trump has always claimed he is an outsider and that the powers that be are “out to get” him.

Last night, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg tweeted, “This evening we contacted Mr. Tumps’ attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains uncertain seal.”

Bragg and his investigators have already won a conviction against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, in a prosecution begun under Bragg’s predecessor in office. Bragg won his case against Trump’s company on charges of tax fraud, in 2022, in the New York Supreme Court, after his team “turned” long-time Trump executive Allen Weisselberg, who accepted a plea deal. Weisselberg testified against the Trump company but not against Trump himself.

Anyone accused of crimes in the United States is innocent until proven guilty, and Trump can still run for office. Being indicted on charges does not disqualify Trump, or anyone, from running for the office of the president of the United States.

Under constitutional requirements to run for president, there are no rules about anyone under indictment, or even for someone convicted of crimes, to run for office.

Controversy has always been a friend to the former president. Trump has always characterized any legal inquiries into his actions as a “witch hunt” by his political opponents, often saying his Democrat adversaries are out to get him, just to shut him up.

In a statement, Trump’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said the indictment is business as usual, as the alleged enemies of Trump attack him.

“This is the new normal,” said Cheung. “This operation has been fine-tuned since 2016.”

Trump, like anyone indicted for alleged crimes, is expected to be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken, albeit behind closed doors, in New York early next week. The indictment may be unsealed once he is processed.

But for now, in a country harshly divided over abortion rights, gun laws, and the issues of immigration, parental rights laws in schools, and book banning, this indictment is expected to create a tsunami of public outcry from both sides of the political spectrum.

The US Capitol incursion on January 6 was a harsh reminder to Americans that even here, in the US, violent protestors can disrupt Congress and the process of a legal election.

Like a virus, disruptive protests are spreading worldwide. Airports, hospitals, shops and roadways are being shut down during widespread protests in numerous countries.

In France, millions are marching and often setting fire to treasured, historic courtyards, buildings and trash, over French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to change retirement and pension laws. Israeli protesters are marching and wreaking havoc as well in their country in response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempted overhaul of the justice system. In Tehran, thousands of protesters are shutting down streets, with many being arrested.

With the historic indictment of a former president now making global news, and the US entrenched in a sometimes violent political divide, there is a very strong possibility the U.S. will experience tumultuous protests as well.