hello and welcome to the programme. we begin with breaking news coming out of the united states in the past half hour donald trump has become the first former united states president to face criminal charges. the case in new york relates to alleged hush money payments to an adult entertainer before the 2016 election. mr trump denies wrongdoing. i m joined now by our washington correspondent gary o donoghue. great to get you on the programme. i know that information is coming in fast and furiously. give us the latest of what we have heard today. it is worth pausing for a moment and realising that this is really a true moment in history. that where it is overly used, but this is a moment in history, the first time ever that an american president or former president has been charged with a crime. now, we know this investigation has been going on for some time. we know it relates to payments made to an adult film star before the 2016 general election. we don t know the details
actually help pen rally republican support around ten as he and battled standard bearer of the party. anthony, how much truth is there to that assessment, do you think, given that assessment, do you think, given that he has such widespread support certainly has had widespread support in the republican base up until this point? in the republican base up untilthis oint? , ., , , ., . ., point? obviously we are in uncharted waters, point? obviously we are in uncharted waters. and point? obviously we are in uncharted waters, and while point? obviously we are in uncharted waters, and while this point? obviously we are in uncharted waters, and while this may point? obviously we are in uncharted waters, and while this may bring - waters, and while this may bring some republican voters around ten, because the way this has been framed by notjust donald trump, by republicans across the board from speaker of the husk kevin mccarthy on down is that this is a liberal plot to get donald trum