Donald Trump: How Could Paying A Porn Star Lead To Charges Against The Billionaire? Southwest – S Chronicles

Why Did Porn Actress Stormy Daniels Get $130,000?

At the heart of the 2016 presidential campaign, behind-the-scenes negotiations are being held to prevent embarrassing outbursts against the Republican nominee. In August, a tabloid whose boss is close to Donald Trump, The National Enquirer, bought $150,000 from a model, Karen McDougal, the rights to her story about a relationship she allegedly had with the billionaire. Purpose of the operation: cover-up of the affair, a technique known as “catch and kill” in the United States, where confidentiality clauses are common.

Porn film actress Stephanie Clifford aka Stormy Daniels also wants to monetize her alleged affair with Donald Trump in 2006 when he was married to his wife Melania. The tabloid put her in touch with Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen. This believer of believers paid $130,000 in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement from the actress in late October 2016, just days before the presidential election. The payment will be announced by the Wall Street Journal in January 2018. Michael Cohen and Trump deny any immediate payment, and the 45th President of the United States has always denied having a relationship with the actress.

Why is the American judiciary seized?

With the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in mind, Michael Cohen already sees that the noose of the judiciary is tightening. He eventually cooperated with the justice system and in August 2018 pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan to tax and bank fraud, but also to violations of campaign finance laws.

Michael “Cohen made these payments” to buy the actress’ silence “to influence the 2016 presidential election,” federal prosecutors said. However, he received reimbursement from the Trump Organization and the US judiciary considers it a hidden donation to the presidential campaign, in violation of election finance laws. In December 2018, Michael Cohen, who opposed Donald Trump and said he acted on his orders, was sentenced to three years in prison.

What is Donald Trump accused of?

“The payment itself is not criminal. It is illegal to falsify a company’s records,” said John Coffee, a law professor at Columbia University. “The Trump Organization is a business” and the reimbursements paid to Michael Cohen “are intended to cover legal fees,” he continues. False information, according to the American judiciary.

If this single offense against Donald Trump is indicted by the local New York state judiciary, “it is a misdemeanor.” “But it becomes a crime, punishable by up to four years in prison, if prosecutors can convince a jury that the manipulation was done to cover up another crime,” such as an illegal donation to the candidate’s campaign 2016, explains John Coffee. “It’s not easy and it’s being discussed,” warns the law professor.

How does Donald Trump defend himself?

Donald Trump assured on his social network Truth Social on Saturday that he would be “arrested” on Tuesday and called for demonstrations against his possible indictment by a grand jury led by New York City Attorney for Manhattan Alvin Bragg. an elected Democrat.

In each of the cases against him, Trump denounces “a political witch hunt” by Democratic judges, most notably New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

Another point of attack is the reliability and reputation of Michael Cohen, a key witness for the prosecution and a sworn enemy of Donald Trump. The former attorney — disbarred — was also convicted of lying to Congress in the Russian investigation.