In an unprecedented event in American history, former President Donald Trump is set to face trial in Manhattan this month. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a hush money scheme, aimed at silencing two women who claimed to have had affairs with him prior to the 2016 election.
The Charges
The case, which is both historic and salacious, involves a former adult-film actress, Stormy Daniels, and a Playboy model, Karen McDougal. Trump, who vehemently denies all allegations, is also facing three other criminal trials for alleged election interference, conspiracy, and mishandling classified documents post-presidency. These, coupled with his civil liabilities for defamation, sexual misconduct, and business fraud, create a complex legal landscape.
The Hush Money Case
Both women claim to have had affairs with Trump years before his presidential run and were paid six-figure sums in the months leading up to the 2016 election. McDougal was paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc. (AMI), for her story rights, which was never published. Daniels, on the other hand, received $130,000 from Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, to sign a nondisclosure agreement about her encounters with Trump.
Legal Implications
These hush money payments have been deemed illegal. Cohen and AMI have both admitted to breaking laws, with Cohen pleading guilty to two campaign finance charges in August 2018. AMI, now known as a360media, was not criminally charged but paid a $187,500 fine to the Federal Election Commission for making an unlawful campaign contribution.
Trump’s Involvement
Trump initially denied any knowledge of the payments, but later admitted to making them to Cohen in a carefully worded tweet. However, he argued that they had nothing to do with his campaign. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Trump’s indictment by a grand jury in April 2023, accusing the former president of “falsifying New York business records in order to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election.”
The Road Ahead
This case is just the tip of the iceberg in a long and sordid tale. The alleged affairs, the payments, and the subsequent legal battles have all contributed to a complex narrative. The case has taken years to build and could potentially be the only one of the four criminal cases against Trump to go to trial before the November election in which he’s trying to reclaim the White House.
As the trial unfolds, it promises to be a Shakespearean drama, with former allies turned enemies, high-profile witnesses, and a relentless media spotlight. Despite the gravity of the charges, Trump is likely to continue his campaign from outside the courtroom, attacking New York authorities such as Bragg.
While this case may seem smaller compared to the federal and Fulton County, Georgia, cases, which accuse him of trying to fraudulently overturn the 2020 election, it is the first to go to trial due to various delays in the other cases. As such, it serves as a stark reminder of the legal challenges that the former president faces.