Trump Accused of Paying Hush Money to Porn Star in “Election Fraud” Scandal

The trial of former President Donald Trump is currently taking place in lower Manhattan. This trial involves 34 felony counts relating to a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump before the 2016 election. Prosecutors argue that Trump falsified business records to cover up the payment and have alleged that a criminal conspiracy involving Trump, his former attorney Michael Cohen, and David Pecker was in place to influence the election.

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo outlined the alleged conspiracy, claiming it was an attempt to influence the election to help Trump get elected. He referred to the actions as election fraud. Trump’s defense lawyer Todd Blanche, however, argued that the payment was meant to protect Trump’s reputation as Daniels had threatened to go public with her account of the alleged encounter.

This trial comes at a time when Trump, 77, is seeking to return to the White House in a rematch with President Joe Biden. Blanche has labeled the case as election interference and a witch hunt by Democrats. He criticized the prosecution’s reliance on Cohen and Daniels, calling Cohen obsessed with Trump and questioning the credibility of Daniels.

The trial, which has been known since 2018 and specifically since Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump last year, includes insider accounts, emails, text messages, and recordings of Trump discussing the repayment. The indictment alleges that Trump covered up business records in reimbursing $420,000 to Cohen, falsely claiming the payments were for legal fees after he was elected. The Enquirer was involved in purchasing and burying negative stories about Trump’s opponents, preventing them from being published.

While the trial is ongoing, it’s become clear that Trump’s defense will focus on attacking the charges and questioning the credibility of the witnesses, particularly Cohen and Daniels. The former president has been critical of the DA’s charges, and his attorney has emphasized Cohen’s criminal record and alleged financial motivations. Blanche has also questioned the relevance of Daniels’ testimony to the financial transactions at the core of the case.