NEW YORK (PTTP) – Former President Donald Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to the alleged suppression of an extra-marital affair with the pornographic actress Stephanie Clifford, known by the stage name Stormy Daniels. The charges were brought by Alvin Bragg, New York District Attorney.
Before Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States, it is claimed that he arranged a “catch-and-kill” scheme with his former lawyer Michael Cohen and the executive of the National Enquirer tabloid David Pecker.
To “catch-and-kill” refers to intercepting a damaging story about a subject before it was released to the press. In relation to Mr. Trump’s current allegations, there were three individuals looking to publish potentially harmful stories about sexual liaisons Mr. Trump had outside of his marriage, one of which claimed to have resulted in a child.
The most publicized of these affairs was between Trump and Ms. Daniels. It is claimed that Mr. Cohen paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the subject. The documents which recorded Donald Trump’s repayment of Michael Cohen for these “hush-money” payments are documents that were allegedly falsified and are currently at hand.
The falsification of business documents is normally a misdemeanor in the state of New York unless those falsifications are connected to the commitment, aiding, or concealing of another crime.
It has not yet been revealed what underlying crime will elevate these charges to a felony. There is speculation that it will be related to the illegal influencing of a campaign (by attempting to sway public opinion with the suppression of news) or a crime related to tax fraud, as Michael Cohen allegedly filed these reimbursement payments as income to achieve tax breaks.