A trial about hush money payments made to cover up claims of affairs is happening for former President Donald Trump. Here are the key points:
- Trump is accused of illegally paying money to hide stories before the 2016 election
- One main witness has admitted to lying many times in the past
- Trump says the case is just revenge from President Biden and Democrats
- Both sides argue over whether Trump can publicly talk about the trial
A Strange Porn Star Case
The trial is about secret payments Trump made in 2016 to stop stories from coming out. One was to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had an affair with Trump years earlier.
Trump’s team paid Daniels $130,000 right before the election so she would stay quiet. Prosecutors say this broke campaign finance laws by hiding information from voters.
However, Trump’s lawyers argue that he was just protecting his family and brand from false claims, which is legal for a celebrity businessman. They say the money didn’t have anything to do with the election itself.
Star Witness Has “Lying Problem”
The prosecution’s most important witness is Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer. Cohen arranged the hush money payments, then turned against Trump later.
In TV interviews, Cohen has called himself the trial’s “star witness” and “narrator.” But Trump’s team says Cohen has been caught lying to Congress multiple times and can’t be trusted.
In 2019, Cohen admitted, “I have been convicted on five counts of tax evasion,” and said under oath he had previously lied to Congress. He’s also writing a book promoting his view of events.
Trump: “Biden Revenge” Case
Trump claims the whole case is really payback from Democrats and President Biden’s team for him winning the 2016 election. His lawyers argue Biden’s staff secretly pushed the charges behind the scenes.
Evidence shows that Biden officials met repeatedly with investigators early on and urged the revision of Trump’s rights over classified records. However, Biden denies direct involvement.
Trump says it’s unfair prosecutors have restricted what he can publicly say to defend himself during the trial. He wants to be able to respond on social media to evidence and testimony as it happens.
What’s Next?
The trial is currently in the questioning witness stage. Both sides will continue arguing over whether Trump broke laws or was just protecting his reputation as a public figure.
Key questions are: Did Trump’s hush money intend to influence the 2016 vote? Or was it a legal private payment unrelated to the campaign? Should Trump face charges over actions common to a celebrity?
The judge will soon decide how much more Trump can publicly discuss the trial events as they unfold. Trump could face penalties if he violates court orders about what he says.
