Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court. The indictment came after a lengthy investigation conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The indictment stems from allegations Trump falsified business records related to hush money payments prior to the 2016 presidential election. After hearing testimony from a grand jury in late January, Trump was charged on Thursday but the document remained sealed until his not-guilty plea on Tuesday.
The indictment casts a harsh light on the former president, showing how a person in a position of power can be held accountable for their actions even after they leave office. This case also highlights the significant resources and effort involved in convicting a former president— in this case, the deduction of a grand jury and the preservation of vital evidence like financial records.
Trump’s company, The Trump Organization, is also at the center of the case. The Trump Organization is a privately held conglomerate of numerous businesses that operate inside and outside the United States. It employs more than 22,000 full and part-time employees and has seen its net worth increase by billions of dollars over the past decade.
Trump himself is one of the most powerful and well-known figures in the world. Before becoming the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, he was a successful real estate developer, author and media personality. He has also owned beauty pageants like Miss Universe and Miss USA, and has created multiple hit reality TV shows. Trump’s fame has helped propel him to new heights of political power, and his career as a businessman continues to be a source of fascination.
