AS THE indictments have piled up against ex-president Donald Trump, they appear to have little impact upon US electors and registered supporters of the Republican Party. 

Public opinion barely moved after the first set of indictments at the end of March, when a Manhattan grand jury charged him with undisclosed criminal offences relating to hush-money payments to pornography “star” Stormy Daniels. Polls showed a “popularity deficit” against him of around 15 percentage points.

He remained popular among 40 per cent of US citizens, including many religious zealots who do not believe the charges and have no faith in the integrity of federal and government authorities.