Former president accused of falsification of financial documents
Former US President Donald Trump arrived at the Manhattan courthouse in New York for the start of the trial in which he is accused of falsifying 34 financial documents to cover up an alleged bribe to former porn actress Stormy Daniels and said that the trial is an “attack on America.”
“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” said the Republican candidate for the White House in the 2024 elections, adding that the accusations against him are “political persecution”.
Trump is the first former president in US history to face criminal prosecution and faces up to four years in prison, in a trial that takes place in the midst of the election race.
“When I walk into court, I know that I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me and that I will fight for the freedom of 325 million Americans,” the tycoon wrote on his social network Truth, before the trial.
Trump is suspected of paying $130,000 to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in 2016, through his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, to buy the former porn star’s silence about an alleged sexual relationship. The tycoon’s objective would be to avoid possible negative effects in the final phase of that year’s presidential campaign.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Trump had recorded the reimbursement he made to Cohen for the alleged bribe as a “legal fee,” which could constitute a crime. However, a possible conviction – including imprisonment – would not prevent the former president from running.
Trump denies fraud and any relationship with Daniels and says he will not receive a fair trial in New York, a largely Democratic city.
Source: Terra
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