“Catch and kill”: what is Trump accused of?
The New York District grand jury indictment charges Trump with ‘first-degree falsification of business records’, which was allegedly done to commit or conceal another crime, although it did not specify which one. . 34 paragraphs over 15 pages list specific evidence and violations in the case.
A separate opinion, signed by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleges that the falsification of documents was carried out to cover up “illegal actions that prevented the dissemination of information that could harm Trump in the eyes of voters during the presidential campaign. of 2016”. “Catch and kill” incriminating evidence – that’s what the prosecutor calls this scheme.
We are talking in particular about the episode of the payment of 130,000 dollars in compensation to the pornographic actress Stormy Daniels for her silence on her alleged sexual relationship with Trump in 2006, when he was married. The payment was reportedly made by Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, who was later compensated through the Trump Organization. Other such actions taken by Trump’s entourage are described, but the charges against him relate only to the Daniels case.
The documents allege Trump “collaborated” with others to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election. To “advance his candidacy,” according to the prosecution, the defendant falsified Trump Organization financial records related to the payment.
Recall that in the end, Trump won the 2016 elections and became President of the United States.
Will the former US president go to jail?
To press charges, Trump, who voluntarily appeared before the prosecutor’s office and in court in New York, was temporarily taken into custody, but this is a procedural moment. Immediately after the meeting ended, he was released.
The indictment relates to sections of the New York Criminal Code on falsifying business records, which is a felony if done to conceal another violation. According to US media, prosecutors in the case have yet to prove such a connection. And in themselves, neither payment nor the falsification of commercial documents are considered criminal offences.
Under these sections of the New York Penal Code, the penalty is up to a term of imprisonment of up to four years. However, in the absence of a criminal record, a lighter sentence is usually chosen, which does not provide for an actual prison sentence.
And after?
Trump himself at the meeting refused to plead guilty. He is expected to deliver a speech on the process later on Tuesday (around 2 a.m. Wednesday Moscow time).
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p class="">His attorney, Todd Blanche, told reporters it was "a political issue that turned into political persecution." The line that the case against Trump is politicized is also being pushed by Republican politicians who support him.
The next hearing with Trump's personal participation, according to CNN, will be on December 4. And the start of the procedure, according to the Washington Post, is tentatively scheduled for the first half of 2024.
Clearly, the process will be one of the central campaign themes ahead of the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is still seen as the Republican Party's leading contender. By the way, even if this is a prison sentence for Trump, from the point of view of the laws in the United States, it will not prevent him from participating in elections and even being elected president.
