Prosecutors in New York have charged former US President Donald Trump with falsifying business documents in 34 counts. The public prosecutor’s office in New York said on Tuesday that he wanted to hide harmful information and illegal activities before and after the 2016 presidential election. (You can read the indictment here)
After the indictment in New York, the public prosecutor announced the details. At the center of the indictment is a so-called “catch and kill scheme”: Trump and others have systematically tried to identify, buy and hide negative information about him and thus increase his chances of election, according to the statement by the prosecutor. Trump went to great lengths to cover it all up by making dozens of false entries in business records. Attempts to violate electoral laws are among the criminal activities he has tried to cover up.
The background to the case: Shortly before his election as president in 2016, Trump had paid hush money to the porn actress Stormy Daniels. She had claimed she had sex with him. Trump denies an affair, but not that money flowed. Such a payment in itself is not illegal. However, Trump is accused of having incorrectly booked them.
Prosecutor Alvin Bragg said, “We cannot allow New York City corporations to tamper with their records to cover up criminal behavior.”
The further procedure after the indictment could take a long time. Before a trial there is a series of hearings and the opportunity to make various applications. Trump’s lawyers could try to delay the processes and bring a process to burst. The trial of former US President Donald Trump in New York over a hush-money scandal could begin in January 2024. The responsible judge Juan Merchan said on Tuesday at the indictment reading, as a journalist from the AFP news agency reported on site
More to come.
