Washington [US], April 4 (ANI): United States former President Donald Trump has been charged with three pre-election hush-money cases, including the one made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg said in an official statement. In the statement, the attorney mentioned three instances of the ‘catch and kill’ scheme in Donald Trump‘s indictment.
“In one instance, American Media Inc. (“AMI”), paid USD 30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman, who claimed to have a story about a child TRUMP had out of wedlock,” Bragg said in a statement. The attorney also stated that the AMI paid USD 150,000 was paid to the woman who claimed to have a sexual relationship with Trump. And former President asked his lawyer to reimburse AMI in cash.
AMI admitted its conduct was unlawful in an agreement with federal prosecutors and made false entries in its business records concerning the true purpose of the USD 150,000 payment. “In a third instance – 12 days before the presidential general election – the Special Counsel wired USD 130,000 to an attorney for an adult film actress. The Special Counsel, who has since pleaded guilty and served time in prison for making the illegal campaign contribution, made the payment through a shell corporation funded through a bank in Manhattan,” the statement read.
Bragg also said that during the 2016 election, Trump and others employed a “catch and kill” scheme to identify, purchase, and bury negative information about him and boost his electoral prospects. Trump is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with 34 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. “The People of the State of New York allege that Donald J. Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” said District Attorney Bragg.
“Manhattan is home to the country’s most significant business market. We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct. As the Statement of Facts describes, the trail of money and lies exposes a pattern that, the People allege, violates one of New York‘s basic and fundamental business laws. As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law,” he added.
After winning the election, Trump reimbursed the Special Counsel through a series of monthly checks, first from the Trump Revocable Trust – created in New York to hold the Trump Organization’s assets during TRUMP’s presidency – and later from Trump’s bank account. In total, 11 checks were issued for a phoney purposes.
Trump’s next in-person hearing set in December
New York‘s Manhattan court has called United States former President Donald Trump for the next in-person hearing on December 4, CNN reported. Trump, who pleaded not guilty to the 34 criminal charges against him, has left the courtroom without making any statements.
After leaving the courtroom, Trump left the building and got into his motorcade parked outside. The indictment against Donald Trump alleges the former president was involved in a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.
The indictment against Donald Trump alleges that the editor-in-chief and CEO of the National Enquirer approached Michael Cohen shortly after the access of Hollywood tape became public in October 2016. And later on, told Cohen that adult film star Stormy Daniels was claiming she had an affair with Donald Trump.
Cohen, the indictment says, negotiated a hush-money payment with Daniels to “secure [Daniels’] silence and prevent disclosure of the damaging information in the final weeks before the presidential election.” According to CNN citing the prosecutors, Trump was part of the plan to suppress negative information, including an illegal payment of USD 130,000 that was ordered by the defendant to suppress information that would hurt his campaign.
Earlier, he surrendered to authorities at a court in Lower Manhattan ahead of his arraignment.
As he arrived at the Lower Manhattan court, Trump posted a cryptic post that the experience is “SURREAL,” adding, “WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America.”
According to CNN, Trump is expected to be fingerprinted as part of the arrest, though it’s still unclear whether his mugshot will be taken. He will next be brought to a courtroom, where he will be arraigned — an appearance that is expected to be quick and routine but represents a surreal and historic moment in US history.
Donald Trump arrived at New York‘s La Guardia Airport on Monday, ahead of his expected arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse, reported CNN. Alina Habba, who represents Trump in several civil matters, after meeting him in New York, said, “He’s in good spirits. Honestly, he’s as he normally would be. He’s ready to go in and do what he needs to do.”
Trump, who is running for the Republican nomination for next year’s presidential race, has denied any wrongdoing and called the probe and the indictment a partisan attack. Bragg is a Democrat. A team of Secret Service agents accompanied by New York Police Department officials toured the courthouse and its entrances on Friday, apparently mapping the former president’s transit through it.
The FBI is warning local and state police agencies around the country about concerns related to a possible indictment of Trump, and even New York City officials plan to close key streets in lower Manhattan as a security measure, reported ABC News. (ANI)
Trump pleads ‘not guilty’ to 34 felony charges in court appearance
Washington [US], April 5 (ANI): United States former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, pleaded ‘not guilty‘ to 34 criminal charges against him in a Manhattan criminal court, CNN reported citing sources. The investigation against Trump started in the 2016 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to conceal an alleged affair that he has constantly denied.
According to CNN, citing the sources, the indictment returned last week by a grand jury against Trump has been unsealed. Trump officially became the first former president to face criminal charges Tuesday when he was arraigned Tuesday.
Earlier, he surrendered to authorities at a court in Lower Manhattan ahead of his arraignment. As he arrived at the Lower Manhattan court, Trump posted a cryptic post that the experience is “SURREAL,” adding, “WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America.”
Donald Trump arrived at New York‘s La Guardia Airport on Monday, ahead of his expected arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse, reported CNN. Alina Habba, who represents Trump in several civil matters, after meeting him in New York, said, “He’s in good spirits. Honestly, he’s as he normally would be. He’s ready to go in and do what he needs to do.”
Trump, who is running for the Republican nomination for next year’s presidential race, has denied any wrongdoing and called the probe and the indictment a partisan attack. Bragg is a Democrat. A team of Secret Service agents accompanied by New York Police Department officials toured the courthouse and its entrances on Friday, apparently mapping the former president’s transit through it.
The FBI is warning local and state police agencies around the country about concerns related to a possible indictment of Trump, and even New York City officials plan to close key streets in lower Manhattan as a security measure, reported ABC News. (ANI)
