The charges against Donald Trump relate to improper campaign contributions. The case was triggered by hush money paid to Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, an adult-film star. Daniels claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to their son Barron.
Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, had paid hush money to the porn star just before the 2016 presidential election. The Trump Organisation then reimbursed him. Cohen pleaded guilty to making false statements about the payments and was sent to prison.
In the United States it is not illegal to pay hush money, but the practice of reimbursing Michael Cohen is seen as a form of illegal campaign financing because it did not appear in the books.
The New York District Attorney’s Office said that these payments were improper campaign contributions and that their purpose was to protect presidential candidate Trump from harm. In doing so, Donald Trump violated campaign finance laws.
In 2016, Donald Trump had won the presidential election and was President of the United States of America until 2020. He therefore had immunity and could not be impeached. But that has now changed.
Since the beginning of April 2023, the public prosecutor’s office has been suing Donald Trump. He has been charged with 34 counts, including falsifying business records, falsely accounting for payments, and attempting to conceal illegal activities in order not to jeopardise his electoral chances.
On 25 May 2023, a grand jury in New York decided that the trial of Donald Trump for paying hush money to Stephanie Clifford should begin on 25 March 2024.
To the German translation of this artile: März 2023: Prozess in New York wegen illegaler Wahlkampfspenden