NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: New York State Attorney General Letitia James (L) looks on as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks at a press conference after Steve Bannon, former advisor to former President Donald Trump surrendered at the NY District Attorney's office to face charges on September 08, 2022 in New York City. Bannon faces a new criminal indictment that will mirror the federal case in which he was pardoned by former President Donald Trump. He and others have been alleged to have defrauded contributors to a private $25 million fundraising effort to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border according. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, unveiled the Statement of Facts in the criminal indictment against former President Donald Trump. The documents accuse Trump of illegally falsifying documents following hush money payments made to former adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
The 34 counts claim the former president falsified business documents. The claims are all first-degree, low-level felonies in New York State.
Trump pleaded not guilty on all 34 counts.
The Statement of Facts alleges a larger scheme to “catch and kill” stories of sexual arrangements during the 2016 election. Trump allegedly paid Daniels to ensure their extramarital affair wouldn’t be sold to other media outlets.
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The documents claim that Trump’s former “fixer” attorney, Micheal Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money. The D.A. claims that Trump paid Cohen back in a series of checks from the Trump Organization.
Cohen has admitted to fraudulently invoicing the Trump organization for “legal fees.” He alleges that the invoices were reimbursement for the payment to Daniels.
The document also unveiled new complaints against Trump, saying he made more hush money payments to a second woman and a former doorman. The second woman also alleges they were involved in an extramarital affair. The doorman made unproven claims that the former president had a child with a woman out of wedlock.
The 34 counts comprise three claims about Trump’s business practices. Eleven complaints allege Trump knowingly received falsified invoices from Cohen. Eleven counts reflect checks that Trump allegedly paid to Cohen. Twelve other counts allege that Trump falsified the documents to subvert legal or tax penalties.
Trump, a candidate in the Republican primary for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, is the first former president in American history charged with a crime.
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