Irish Examiner view: Stakes high as Trump assumes martyr's role

Republicans will attempt to present the process as politically motivated and a 'weaponising' of the US legal system

Donald Trump describes the investigation as 'the greatest witch hunt in history'. Picture: Sue Ogrocki/AP

It’s a perverse world when the prospect of being arrested and undertaking a “perp walk” into a Manhattan courtroom can be seen as electorally enhancing for a potential candidate to become the next US president of the United States.

The charges, sealed for now, relate to payments said to be made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters with porn actor Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Gregory Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. They are criminal matters which could carry a custodial sentence.