Former President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday by a Manhattan grand jury following an investigation into his alleged role in paying $130,000 in secret money just before the 2016 presidential election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to buy her silence over an alleged case.
The indictment makes Trump the first former U. S. president. U. S. citizens are in criminal charge. Trump is in New York this week for impeachment.
Prosecutors asked Trump on March 9 to testify before the grand jury, but Trump refused. Such an offer indicates that an indictment is imminent, the New York Times reported.
The accusation remains sealed. Trump can be charged under New York state law with accounting fraud, falsifying business documents by concealing Daniels’ payment.
2006 | Daniels meets Trump
July
Actress and film director Stormy Daniels meets Donald Trump on a celebrity golf tour in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The actress, whose real call is Stephanie Clifford, later said in interviews that she and Trump had sex in their hotel room. Daniels will say:
At the time, Daniels was 27 and Trump, star of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” was 60. Trump’s wife, Melania, gave birth to their son Barron in March 2006.
July
Daniels says he met with Trump for 4 hours at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles to discuss his involvement in “Celebrity Apprentice,” a spin-off of “The Apprentice. “
Daniels says Trump called her in August to tell her it was not possible to appear in court.
Power
Daniels was interviewed via In Touch magazine, but the story was not published following legal threats from Trump’s private lawyer, Michael Cohen, “60 Minutes” reported in 2018.
In 2018, In Touch published the interview with Daniels, a few weeks before the “60 Minutes” report.
Daniels says she is threatened by a guy in a Las Vegas parking lot who tells her to “leave Trump alone. Forget the story. “
June 19
Trump declares his candidacy for president.
July 19
Trump, the Republican candidate for president.
Daniels and her attorney Keith Davidson told the National Enquirer she was ready to report on the alleged affair with Trump.
The executive director and publisher of the Enquirer contacted Cohen, who gave Daniels $130,000 for the rights to the story and to sign a confidentiality agreement, a legally binding document written on her story would not be made public.
Cohen established Essential Consultants LLC in Delaware as a legal entity for the payment to Daniels, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Cohen made a $130,000 wire transfer to Daniels. La First Republic Bank attorney, who dealt with the transaction and reported it to the Treasury Department as suspicious.
Trump is elected president.
January
After Trump’s election, Cohen requested $180,000 from the Trump Organization. He files false invoices and then receives checks signed through Trump after taking office, NBC reports, mentioning Mark Pomerantz, a former New York prosecutor.
Trump was sworn in as president.
January 12
The Wall Street Journal published an article in which Cohen arranged a $130,000 payment for Daniels, which included a nondisclosure agreement.
Cohen admits to paying Daniels $130,000, but involves the Trump campaign.
Trump, speaking publicly about the factor for the first time, says he is aware of a $130,000 payment to Daniels.
Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told Fox News that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 he used to pay Daniels.
Cohen pleaded guilty to 8 similar counts of tax fraud, exaggerated cross-contributions, illegal corporate contributions, and misstatements to a monetary institution. The guilty plea was entered in U. S. District Court. U. S. for the Southern District of New York.
Cohen admits to making bills to two on behalf of a political candidate. The bills were made to influence the final election results, Cohen said.
Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, says she had a 10-month relationship with Trump in 2006 and 2007.
Cohen sentenced to 3 years in federal prison.
May 6
Cohen begins his prayer.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office subpoenaed the Trump organization to bill Daniels and McDougal.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office cites Trump’s 2011 tax returns.
Trump is going to block the subpoenas, saying he enjoys immunity. Then the costumes are rejected.
July 9
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Trump will have to comply with the subpoena and turn over tax records.
California is ordering Trump to pay $44,100 for Daniels’ legal fees.
February 22
The Supreme Court rejects Trump’s appeal to keep tax documents private.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office receives Trump’s tax records.
Alvin Bragg was elected district attorney for the borough of Manhattan, replacing Cyrus Vance Jr. , who retired and did not run for the workplace again.
Cohen is released from the federal guard after being arrested in space.
November 15
Trump who will run for president in 2024.
March 9
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is inviting Trump to testify before the grand jury investigating the alleged hidden payment to Daniels and McDougal.
Trump’s lawyers say Trump will testify before the grand jury. Cohen testifies before the grand jury for the first time.
Cohen testified before the grand jury for 3 hours.
Trump is on social media to say he could be arrested. He asks his followers to demonstrate.
Police in New York, Washington, D. C. and Los Angeles have erected barricades in anticipation of demonstrations by Trump supporters.
The Manhattan grand jury is challenging a sealed indictment against Trump.
Trump will be arrested in Manhattan.
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SOURCE USA TODAY Network reports and research; Associated Press