Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury following a probe by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The 16-page indictment, released on April 4 after Trump was arraigned, says that Trump falsified records related to multiple payments made to keep concealed negative information about him.
That includes the payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who has claimed Trump had an affair with her, according to the charges.
Trump has denied claims of an affair. Cohen has said he paid Daniels to keep her quiet about the claims ahead of the 2016 presidential election, and has pleaded guilty to making an illegal campaign contribution.
After the election, Trump reimbursed Cohen through a series of checks. The payments were logged as being for legal services rendered in 2017 pursuant to a retainer agreement, according to a statement of facts entered in the case. But “there was no retainer agreement,” and Cohen was not being paid for services rendered in 2017.
Trump “caused his entities’ business records to be falsified to disguise his and others’ criminal conduct,” the statement says.
Trump’s trial date has not been set as of yet. It’s expected to take place in 2024.
