Former President Donald Trump has been hit with a 34-count criminal indictment for falsifying business records and conspiracy in connection with hush money payments to two women prior to the 2016 presidential election. According to the indictment, Trump allegedly sought to suppress public claims by these women of having sexual relations with him, in an effort to support his chance of winning the election against Hilary Clinton.
The grand jury indictment was unsealed at Trump’s arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, during which he pled not guilty to the charges. There have been two women publically identified as recipients of hush money payments in 2016, namely Stormy Daniel, a porn star, and Karen McDougal, a Playboy model. The former received a $130,000 payment from Trump’s then-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, at Trump’s direction. The latter was given $150,000 by the publisher of The National Enquirer, a supermarket tabloid supportive of Trump.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office began hearing testimony for this case in late January. News of the proceedings startled the public, since a former prosecutor in the district attorney’s office suggested that the Trump investigation was almost over after District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to seek indictment against Trump over reportedly false financial statements connected with real estate assets.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office serves as Office of the District Attorney for New York County in the state of New York. Headed by Cyrus Vance Jr., the office prosecutes violations of New York state laws and handles criminal appeals.
Donald Trump was the 45th President of the United States and the oldest person to ever to assume the office. He is well-known for his controversial presidency and affinity for tweeting. Trump’s election campaign was marked by anti-immigration rhetoric, tax cuts and increased military spending. His tenures as president ultimately ended with his second impeachment in 2021.
