Charged with Giving Hush Money and Damaged the Integrity of the 2016 Election, Donald Trump: Not Guilty

Donald Trump. (Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore)

JAKARTA - Former United States President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in New York State Court to 34 counts of falsifying business records, related to giving hush money before the 2016 election.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has been investigating former president Donald Trump in relation to his alleged role in a hush-hush and cover-up scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that occurred before the 2016 election.

The New York grand jury's indictment opened Tuesday, providing details about the charges against Trump to the public and his legal team for the first time.

The investigation by the Manhattan district attorney's office began while Trump was still in the White House and into the $130,000 payment that Trump's personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, made to Daniels in late October 2016, days before the presidential election, to silence him. did not come out publicly about her alleged affair with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the affair, as reported by CNN, April 5.

Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, said he coordinated with Trump regarding the payment to Daniels. Trump has denied having sexual intercourse with Daniels, but has admitted to reimbursing the money Cohen paid Daniels, as quoted by Reuters.

Trump's reimbursement check to an attorney for hush money falsely stated the money was for a "retainer agreement," prosecutors said. The indictment accuses Trump of falsifying the books of his real estate company with the intention of defrauding.

The reason he committed the crime of falsifying business records was to "promote his candidacy," prosecutors said.

Each of the criminal charges Trump faces relates to certain entries among the Trump Organization's business records, according to the indictment. Prosecutors accuse Trump of repeatedly causing false entries in business records.

Prosecutor Chris Conroy said: "Defendant Donald J. Trump forged New York business records to conceal an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election and other violations of election law."

While falsifying New York business records is in itself a misdemeanor punishable by no more than one year in prison, it escalates into a serious felony punishable by up to four years if committed to advance or conceal another crime, such as a violation of a federal law. election law.

Dressed in a navy suit and red tie, Trump sat quietly, arms folded at the defense table, as he delivered his defense flanked by his lawyers.

"Not guilty," said Trump, 76, when asked how his defense was going.

Trump, who said nothing as he entered the courtroom or when he left the courtroom about an hour later, flew straight home to Florida, where his office said he would deliver a speech at 8:15 p.m. local time.

"We're going to fight hard," Todd Blanche, a Trump attorney, told reporters after the reading of the indictments, adding that Trump was "frustrated, annoyed and angry" over the indictments.

"But I'll tell you - he's motivated. And it's not going to stop him. And it's not going to slow him down. And that's what he's hoping for," Blanche added.

Separately, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who is handling the case and accused by Trump and other Republicans of targeting him for political reasons, defended the charges.

"We uphold today our responsibility to ensure that everyone is equal before the law. No amount of money or power can change this enduring American principle," Bragg told a news conference.

Bragg's office did not accuse Trump of violating the Elections Act.

It is known, Judge Juan Merchan set the next hearing on December 4. Meanwhile, legal experts say the trial may not last for a year, and an indictment or even a guilty verdict will not deter Trump from running for president.