Former President Donald Trump is set to go on trial next week for felony charges related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. While the payment itself may not be illegal, the way it was handled has led to Trump facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege that the payments were made to cover up other crimes, including campaign finance violations and tax issues.
The indictment against Trump stems from the payment made to Daniels by his former attorney Michael Cohen in 2016. Trump allegedly reimbursed Cohen $420,000, including the payment to Daniels, and falsely labeled the payments as legal fees through the Trump Organization. While hush money agreements are legal if consensual, they can become illegal if used to cover up a crime or if they are not consensual, such as in cases of blackmail or bribery.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, labeling the case a “witch hunt.” His attorneys argue that the payments to Cohen were not unlawful, as they were made using Trump’s personal bank accounts. The trial is set to begin next week, with each felony count carrying a potential sentence of up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. However, legal experts believe it is unlikely that Trump would be sentenced to prison as a first-time offender.
The payment to Daniels is not the only hush money payment made during Trump’s 2016 campaign, but it is the only one directly at issue in the criminal case. American Media (AMI) also allegedly made payments to conceal negative stories about Trump, with AMI CEO David Pecker discussing the payments with Trump and Cohen. Trump did not reimburse these payments, unlike the payment to Daniels. AMI CEO David Pecker and model Karen McDougal may testify at Trump’s trial.
Trump’s indictment in March 2023 for his role in the hush money scheme follows a years-long investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. This is one of four criminal cases the former president faces, but it is the first to go to trial. Cohen, who was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the scheme, has since turned on Trump and is now one of his harshest critics. Trump is not the first politician to face charges related to hush money over an alleged affair, as John Edwards faced similar charges after trying to cover up an affair during his presidential campaign. Edwards avoided conviction after the jury hung on most counts.
