CNN —The former leader of Northern Ireland’s most prominent pro-union party, Jeffrey Donaldson, will stand trial over allegations of historical sex offenses including one charge of rape. Eleanor Donaldson, center, is also set to stand trial in September. Niall Carson/PADonaldson led the DUP from 2019, throughout much of the turbulent Brexit process, regularly voicing his opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol, a key part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement that ensured there was no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Donaldson’s trial was announced as people in Northern Ireland were preparing to vote in the UK general election. Northern Irish politicians can choose to either run for a seat in Westminster or for a seat in the devolved legislature, the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Persons: Jeffrey Donaldson, Donaldson, “, ”, Eleanor Donaldson, Niall Carson, Both Donaldson, RTÉ, Donaldson’s, Sinn Féin, Jonathan Buckley Organizations: CNN, Northern, Northern Ireland Courts, Democratic Unionist Party, PA Media, DUP, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland Assembly, Lawmakers, Nationalist Locations: Northern Ireland, Republic of, Westminster, Lagan