About half of Americans believe the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump is politically motivated, but a large majority also believe the allegations are credible, according to the latest public opinion poll.

A two-day Ipsos poll for Reuters found that 54 percent of respondents — including 80 percent of Trump Republicans and 32 percent of Democrats — believe politics is behind the case that is set to be heard by a Manhattan grand jury.

Seventy percent of respondents, including half of Republicans, said they found credible the allegation that Trump paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign to keep quiet about their alleged sexual contact.

About 62 percent of respondents, including a third of Republicans, said they also believed Trump falsified business records and committed fraud.

The poll comes as Trump is asking the Republican Party to renominate him for the White House in 2024. No US president has ever faced criminal charges in court.

Trump, who faces potentially tough competition in his third bid for the Republican nomination, has denied ever having an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

He said on Saturday that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and asked his supporters to respond by giving money to his presidential campaign. A Manhattan grand jury is set to decide whether to indict