What happens if Donald Trump is arrested?

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed he will be arrested for an alleged payment of money to adult movie star Stormy Daniels, reports Sky News .

If he is right in his assertion, the former American president could be charged by the authorities in New York in a few days.

But what will happen if he is charged - and how will both sides present their case?

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest the authorities if he is arrested and charged.

He released a lengthy statement describing the investigation as a "political witch hunt trying to bring down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party."

"I have done absolutely nothing wrong," he said, before criticizing a "corrupt, depraved and armed justice system."

However, it's worth noting a spokesman for Mr Trump said he had not been notified of any pending arrests.

What will Trump do?

Trump has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, of targeting him for political gain and may try to argue for dismissal of the charges on those grounds.

He can contest whether the statute of limitations — five years in this case — should have run out.

But in New York, the statute of limitations can be extended if the defendant was out of state — Trump could argue that serving as US president shouldn't apply.

Politically, how any potential indictment might affect Trump's chances in the 2024 presidential election is unclear.

He could be the first former US president to face criminal prosecution - just as polls show him leading other potential rivals for the Republican nomination, including controversial Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

This could lead to the unprecedented situation in which Trump would stand trial during his campaign in 2024. If elected, he would not have the power to pardon himself on criminal charges.

What will the prosecutors do?

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has spent nearly five years investigating Mr. Trump.

She has presented evidence to a New York grand jury related to a £114,000 ($130,000) payment to Daniels during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.

It is alleged that the payment was made in exchange for Daniels' silence about an affair between her and Trump. Trump has denied the affair and accused Ms. Daniels of extortion.

Any indictment from the district attorney's office would require Trump to travel to his office in New York to be served.

Trump could also be charged with falsifying business records — usually classified as a misdemeanor — after he reimbursed his former lawyer Michael Cohen for payments falsely recorded as legal services.