Donald Trump (image: public domain)Sources tell NBC News that the Manhattan District Attorney’s indictment against Donald Trump includes 30+ separate charges related to falsified business records in connection to hush money payments allegedly paid to cover up affairs prior to the 2016 presidential campaign.
The exact charges are expected to be revealed when Trump is arraigned in New York City next Tuesday.
Former President Trump is facing about 30 document fraud-related charges, sources say.
The exact charges are still under seal, but are expected to be revealed when Trump is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. https://t.co/sJUlQmpZXz
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 31, 2023
From NBC News:
The New York City criminal case centers on more than a quarter of a million dollars paid ahead of the 2016 election to two women, including adult film star Stormy Daniels, to remain quiet about affairs he allegedly had with them. Prosecutors are expected to say Trump tried to illegally hide the payments.
Two sources familiar with the Manhattan grand jury’s work say prosecutors also questioned witnesses about a previous alleged hush money payment to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.
In 2018, longtime former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws and admitted to making hush money payments of $130,000 and $150,000 to two women “at the direction of a candidate for federal office” — a clear reference to Trump, though he was not named — “with the purpose of influencing the [2016] election,” according to court documents.
Legal experts say the large number of charges is probably due to counting each individual payment as its own crime.
While falsifying business records is generally a misdemeanor, the charges can be upgraded to a felony if the false records are used to cover up another crime, which in this case would be campaign finance violations.
For his part, Trump denies breaking any law. Of course…
Sources say former President Trump will travel to New York Monday with plans to stay at his Fifth Ave apartment and then early Tuesday will make the trip to surrender on the charges that have not yet been unsealed before an afternoon court appearance.
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) March 31, 2023