Former President Donald Trump has been slapped with a massive indictment, racking up 34 felony counts in an unprecedented move by the Department of Justice. The charges, which were unsealed on Tuesday, mark a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign.
At the center of the case is Trump's alleged involvement in a scheme to cover up affairs with adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The indictment accuses Trump of using millions of dollars from his campaign and other sources to pay hush money to Daniels, who had claimed she had an affair with Trump, and McDougal, who had also made similar claims.
According to the statement of facts released by the DOJ, Trump's lawyers orchestrated a payment of $130,000 to Daniels' lawyer, Michael Cohen, in October 2016. The payment was allegedly made from Trump's campaign committee, as well as from his personal funds through a straw man entity.
The indictment alleges that Trump knew about the payment and approved it, despite claiming at the time that he had no knowledge of the affair with Daniels. The statement of facts also reveals that Cohen, who has since pleaded guilty to various charges related to the payments, made the initial contact with Daniels' lawyer and negotiated the terms of the payment.
The DOJ's actions mark a significant shift in the investigation into Trump's campaign finances, which had previously focused on the question of whether he broke campaign finance laws. The new indictment appears to be a more aggressive effort by the Department of Justice to hold Trump accountable for his alleged role in the hush money scheme.
Trump has maintained that he did nothing wrong and has accused the DOJ of targeting him with "deep state" forces. His lawyers have vowed to fight the charges, which carry significant prison time if convicted. The case is set to be heard in federal court in New York City.
At the center of the case is Trump's alleged involvement in a scheme to cover up affairs with adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The indictment accuses Trump of using millions of dollars from his campaign and other sources to pay hush money to Daniels, who had claimed she had an affair with Trump, and McDougal, who had also made similar claims.
According to the statement of facts released by the DOJ, Trump's lawyers orchestrated a payment of $130,000 to Daniels' lawyer, Michael Cohen, in October 2016. The payment was allegedly made from Trump's campaign committee, as well as from his personal funds through a straw man entity.
The indictment alleges that Trump knew about the payment and approved it, despite claiming at the time that he had no knowledge of the affair with Daniels. The statement of facts also reveals that Cohen, who has since pleaded guilty to various charges related to the payments, made the initial contact with Daniels' lawyer and negotiated the terms of the payment.
The DOJ's actions mark a significant shift in the investigation into Trump's campaign finances, which had previously focused on the question of whether he broke campaign finance laws. The new indictment appears to be a more aggressive effort by the Department of Justice to hold Trump accountable for his alleged role in the hush money scheme.
Trump has maintained that he did nothing wrong and has accused the DOJ of targeting him with "deep state" forces. His lawyers have vowed to fight the charges, which carry significant prison time if convicted. The case is set to be heard in federal court in New York City.
... like, what's up with that? 
Anyway, I guess it's about time someone held him accountable for all the shady stuff he's been accused of over the years. Those hush money payments were always a bit suspicious, and now we know he knew exactly what was going on. But hey, "deep state" forces, huh? 
This indictment is getting bigger by the day and it's insane how deep the investigation has gone into Trump's 2016 campaign. The fact that they're accusing him of knowing about the payment and approving it, but claiming he had no idea at the time, is just wild. And the straw man entity? That's some shady stuff right there 
. I'm curious to see how this all plays out in court, especially since Trump is known for being a bit of a provocateur 
. The whole "deep state" thing might be a distraction tactic from the real issue at hand – did he actually break any campaign finance laws? 
this indictment is huge! i mean who knew trump's campaign was that shady? 
it's wild that his team paid off an adult film star and a model with millions of dollars from his campaign lol what's next?! did they think no one would notice the connection between the payment and the affairs? 
also, michael cohen is like the ultimate rat for turning snitch on trump 
it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in court 
. The whole 'deep state' thing is just noise, if you ask me 
. Can't say I'm surprised by the indictment, though - Trump's been making waves for years 
). But if he's found not guilty, that raises more questions about who knew what and when.
), it's gonna be fascinating to watch how this case unfolds!
.
. I hope the lawyers are prepared because these charges carry some serious prison time.
.
. And let's be real, it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Trump's constant lies and gaslighting about that whole Stormy Daniels thing 
. It's about time someone took him down a peg and showed the world he's not above the law 
.
he thinks he can just pay off his problems with money but this is getting real 
the fact that his lawyers orchestrated the payment from his campaign committee and personal funds is a major red flag 
this is not just about a presidential candidate, it's about abuse of power and corruption 
the justice system's doing its job, but it's kinda like how we declutter our homes - getting rid of what no longer serves us 
sometimes it feels like a lot of dust and noise, but ultimately makes space for something new 
for anyone to be under.
The fact that Trump's lawyers are already vowing to fight the charges and accusing the DOJ of a "deep state" conspiracy highlights the increasingly charged rhetoric surrounding this case 