The long-awaited indictment against Donald Trump can be revealed today with a bombshell 13-page statement that reveals how he allegedly forged business documents in 2017 to cover up silent money payments to crush three scandals the first time that he ran for president.
Trump has been charged with 34 counts of Class E felony for falsifying business records by allegedly misclassifying payments to his lawyer, Michael Cohen, as legal services when in fact they were silent bill repayments.
The 76-year-old appeared before a Manhattan judge today where he pleaded not guilty to all counts, before returning to Mar-a-Lago.
His next court appearance is in December, but he is expected to make a statement tonight on the unprecedented case, which he says is politically motivated and has no legs.
For weeks there has been rampant speculation about the indictment and what it might contain. Contrary to expectations, it’s not just the silent payment to Stormy Daniels that Trump now faces charges.
The statement of facts also describes his “catch and kill” scheme with former National Enquirer owner David Pecker, whereby his team of reporters and editors bought unflattering stories about Trump to prevent other media to publish them, before the 2016 elections.
Three payments are described; the $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, another $150,000 to a second wife believed to be Karen McDougal and $30,000 to a doorman at Trump Tower who said he wanted to go public with a story claiming he had a child in love.
THE CATCH AND KILL PROGRAM
In June 2015, Trump reached an agreement with AMI and its boss, David Pecker.
The narrative outlines how they met at Trump Tower to discuss Trump’s electoral chances and how they could help.
Donald Trump and David Pecker in 2004. According to Bragg’s indictment, it all started with their “catch and kill scheme” to crush negative stories and get Trump into the Oval Office.
“At the meeting, AMI’s CEO agreed to help with the defendant’s campaign, saying he would act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the campaign by researching negative stories about the defendant and alerting the public. lawyer A before the stories were published.
The first scandal Trump wanted to cover was in October 2015 when Dino Sajudin, a doorman at Trump Tower, tried to sell a story to the press.
“The CEO of AMI also agreed to publish negative articles about defendant’s competitors for the election,” according to the documents released today.
THE STORY OF THE DOORMAN
The first scandal Trump wanted to cover was in October 2015 when Dino Sajudin, a doorman at Trump Tower, tried to sell a story to the press.
He claimed that Trump had a child out of wedlock and he could prove it through his access to the family.
The story was reported in the past by DailyMail.com.
AMI paid him $30,000 for the exclusive rights to the story, preventing him from releasing it to other outlets.
According to the statement of facts, AMI knew the story was not true, but kept Sajudin in the deal until after the election.
The document does not specify whether Trump has ever reimbursed AMI for deleting the gatekeeper story.
Instead, he is said to have invited the CEO of AMI to his inauguration.
WOMAN #1 – KAREN MCDOUGAL
In June 2016, a woman believed to be Karen McDougal, a former Playboy bunny, claimed she and Trump had an affair.
According to Bragg’s office, Trump, Cohen and AMI’s editor then had several conversations about who would “pay” her.
AMI paid him $150,000 allegedly to keep him from going elsewhere with the claims, but also for two blankets and a series of articles.
AMI “falsely” characterized this payment, according to the statement of facts.
Cohen told Trump he would open a shell company to transfer the money, according to the documents, which show their call was taped.
In June 2016, a woman believed to be Karen McDougal, a former Playboy bunny, claimed she and Trump had an affair.
“So what do we have to pay for this?” 150?’ Trump asked, then suggesting he be paid in cash, according to the documents.
Cohen disagreed and said he should be paid by check.
A few weeks later, Cohen set up a shell company called Resolution Consultants, LLC, which was then used to pay.
Cohen agreed to buy the rights to the story from AMI for $125,000, according to the documents, but AMI later reneged.
WOMAN #2 – DANIELS STORM
In October 2016, just weeks before the election and after Trump was shamed by Access Hollywood’s ‘grab ’em by the p***y’ tape, Cohen and AMI learned that a second wife – Stormy Daniels – was preparing to come forward with its own story.
Trump and Stormy Daniels at the golf tournament where they met and where she claims to have slept together
Cohen brokered a $130,000 deal to silence Daniels, this time dealing directly with his attorney and leaving AMI out of it.
AMI had first helped him by introducing him to Stormy’s representatives, according to the newspapers
THE CHARGES – TRUMP ‘FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS’ 34 TIMES TO REIMBURSE COHEN FOR PAYMENTS
The deal went through, but rather than refund them the $130,000 payment, Trump and Cohen — along with the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg — agreed that Trump would refund them a total of $420,000, according to the documents.
They agreed that over the next 12 months, Cohen would receive the payments in monthly installments of $35,000, Bragg claims.
Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg watches as then-US Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower
‘[Cohen] was to send an invoice to [Trump] through employees of the Trump Organization, falsely requesting payment of $35,000 for legal services rendered in a given month in 2017 pursuant to a retainer.
‘At no moment [Cohen] have a mandate agreement with Trump or the Trump Organization,’ the Statement of Facts reads.
The charges all relate to how those payments were filed by Trump.
Bragg says he falsely labeled them as warrants for legal services, which he says signals a class E felony.
Trump put on a stoic performance at the courthouse today.
He said nothing to fans or the media, resisting reporters’ questions as he entered the courtroom and keeping his emotions in check throughout the hearing.
He returned immediately to Mar-a-Lago afterwards, where he will now prepare for his next appearance at the end of the year.