Former US President Donald Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts in an indictment unsealed on Tuesday. The charges stem from a hush money payment made during his 2016 presidential campaign, CNN reported.
According to the indictment, Trump allegedly paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Cohen in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. The alleged affair reportedly took place in 2006, two years before Trump's marriage to Melania Trump.
The indictment alleges that Trump directed Cohen to make the payment in order to prevent the revelation from damaging his presidential campaign. It claims that Trump repeatedly told Cohen to keep the payment quiet and that he even asked Cohen to lie under oath about the transaction during testimony before Congress.
Cohen, who is cooperating with prosecutors, has already pleaded guilty to making false statements on behalf of Trump regarding the hush money payment. He testified before a grand jury in New York last year that Trump knew about the $130,000 payment and directed him to make it.
The indictment's unsealing marks a significant escalation in the investigation into Trump's dealings with Cohen. The charges have sparked concerns among some Republicans that the probe is targeting Trump unfairly and that he will not be held accountable for his actions.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the allegations against him are part of a "witch hunt" by Democratic prosecutors. His lawyers released a statement late Tuesday saying that the indictment was based on "false statements made by Michael Cohen".
The investigation into the hush money payment has been ongoing since 2018, when it emerged that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, had secretly paid Daniels' lawyer $130,000 in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election. The story sparked a media firestorm and led to renewed scrutiny of Trump's business dealings.
The grand jury is believed to be seeking charges related to campaign finance laws, alleging that Trump's payment to Daniels was an illegal contribution to his own campaign. If convicted, the charges carry significant prison time for Trump, who could potentially face decades behind bars if he loses.
For now, it remains to be seen how Trump will respond to the indictment and whether it will affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
According to the indictment, Trump allegedly paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Cohen in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. The alleged affair reportedly took place in 2006, two years before Trump's marriage to Melania Trump.
The indictment alleges that Trump directed Cohen to make the payment in order to prevent the revelation from damaging his presidential campaign. It claims that Trump repeatedly told Cohen to keep the payment quiet and that he even asked Cohen to lie under oath about the transaction during testimony before Congress.
Cohen, who is cooperating with prosecutors, has already pleaded guilty to making false statements on behalf of Trump regarding the hush money payment. He testified before a grand jury in New York last year that Trump knew about the $130,000 payment and directed him to make it.
The indictment's unsealing marks a significant escalation in the investigation into Trump's dealings with Cohen. The charges have sparked concerns among some Republicans that the probe is targeting Trump unfairly and that he will not be held accountable for his actions.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the allegations against him are part of a "witch hunt" by Democratic prosecutors. His lawyers released a statement late Tuesday saying that the indictment was based on "false statements made by Michael Cohen".
The investigation into the hush money payment has been ongoing since 2018, when it emerged that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, had secretly paid Daniels' lawyer $130,000 in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election. The story sparked a media firestorm and led to renewed scrutiny of Trump's business dealings.
The grand jury is believed to be seeking charges related to campaign finance laws, alleging that Trump's payment to Daniels was an illegal contribution to his own campaign. If convicted, the charges carry significant prison time for Trump, who could potentially face decades behind bars if he loses.
For now, it remains to be seen how Trump will respond to the indictment and whether it will affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.