Trump Faces Felony Charges in Unsealed Hush Money Indictment
A federal grand jury has formally charged former US President Donald Trump with 34 felony counts in a shocking development that marks the latest escalation of his ongoing legal battles. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, relates to a hush money payment made by Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen in 2016.
Cohen, who pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws related to the payment, had admitted to arranging for $500,000 to be paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election. The payment was meant to keep quiet about an alleged affair between Trump and Daniels, which she denied.
In a stunning turn of events, the US Department of Justice has now charged Trump with multiple counts of falsifying business records, wire fraud, and other financial crimes related to the payment. The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates used shell companies to conceal the true purpose of the payment from regulators and the public.
The 34-count indictment is a serious blow to Trump's reputation and marks the first time he has been charged with any felony offenses. Cohen's guilty plea had already led to significant fallout for Trump, including an FBI raid on Cohen's home in 2018 and a Congressional investigation into his business dealings.
Read the full indictment and statement of facts here to learn more about the charges against Donald Trump.
A federal grand jury has formally charged former US President Donald Trump with 34 felony counts in a shocking development that marks the latest escalation of his ongoing legal battles. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, relates to a hush money payment made by Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen in 2016.
Cohen, who pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws related to the payment, had admitted to arranging for $500,000 to be paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election. The payment was meant to keep quiet about an alleged affair between Trump and Daniels, which she denied.
In a stunning turn of events, the US Department of Justice has now charged Trump with multiple counts of falsifying business records, wire fraud, and other financial crimes related to the payment. The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates used shell companies to conceal the true purpose of the payment from regulators and the public.
The 34-count indictment is a serious blow to Trump's reputation and marks the first time he has been charged with any felony offenses. Cohen's guilty plea had already led to significant fallout for Trump, including an FBI raid on Cohen's home in 2018 and a Congressional investigation into his business dealings.
Read the full indictment and statement of facts here to learn more about the charges against Donald Trump.