In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts in an indictment unsealed on Tuesday. The charges are related to a hush money payment made by Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen in 2018.
According to the indictment, Trump allegedly knowingly directed the payment of $500,000 from his presidential campaign to adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a scheme to silence her about an alleged affair with him. The payment was made just one month after Trump took office.
The indictment alleges that Trump's actions were in violation of campaign finance laws and other federal regulations. It also accuses Trump of making false statements to federal investigators about his involvement in the payment.
The unsealed documents include a detailed statement of facts related to the hush money payment, which provides further insight into the alleged scheme. The statement details how Cohen made the payment on behalf of Trump's campaign and how it was intended to cover up the affair with Daniels.
The indictment is a significant blow to Trump, who had long denied any involvement in the payment. The charges also raise questions about Trump's ability to govern effectively if he is convicted and removed from office.
Trump has maintained his innocence and claims that the charges are part of a "witch hunt" by the Democratic Party. However, the indictment and statement of facts paint a damning picture of Trump's involvement in the hush money payment scheme.
The case is expected to proceed rapidly, with prosecutors likely seeking to make their case against Trump at trial as soon as possible. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for Trump, his presidency, and the US campaign finance laws.
In a related development, the unsealed documents also reveal that Cohen has been cooperating with federal investigators since 2019, providing testimony about Trump's involvement in the payment scheme.
According to the indictment, Trump allegedly knowingly directed the payment of $500,000 from his presidential campaign to adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a scheme to silence her about an alleged affair with him. The payment was made just one month after Trump took office.
The indictment alleges that Trump's actions were in violation of campaign finance laws and other federal regulations. It also accuses Trump of making false statements to federal investigators about his involvement in the payment.
The unsealed documents include a detailed statement of facts related to the hush money payment, which provides further insight into the alleged scheme. The statement details how Cohen made the payment on behalf of Trump's campaign and how it was intended to cover up the affair with Daniels.
The indictment is a significant blow to Trump, who had long denied any involvement in the payment. The charges also raise questions about Trump's ability to govern effectively if he is convicted and removed from office.
Trump has maintained his innocence and claims that the charges are part of a "witch hunt" by the Democratic Party. However, the indictment and statement of facts paint a damning picture of Trump's involvement in the hush money payment scheme.
The case is expected to proceed rapidly, with prosecutors likely seeking to make their case against Trump at trial as soon as possible. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for Trump, his presidency, and the US campaign finance laws.
In a related development, the unsealed documents also reveal that Cohen has been cooperating with federal investigators since 2019, providing testimony about Trump's involvement in the payment scheme.