Former President Donald Trump Indicted

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted and arraigned. It is the first time in American history that a current or former president will face criminal charges. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has been investigating the former president in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates to the 2016 presidential election.

Partner Paul Charlton of Denton’s Law Firm joins us to discuss more on the case.

Was there anything you didn’t expect?

“There was one surprise I think it was there is a recording that the statement of facts reflects that former President Donald Trump was talking to Mr. Cohen. It reflects the former President’s awareness of the payment to Stormy Daniels, and his thought that perhaps the payment should be made in cash. That’s a relatively new piece of information, and it goes to corroboration. If you have an individual who without exaggeration is convicted of lying, you’re going to need corroboration,” said Charlton.

How similar to the case against Cohen is the case against Trump?

“It is distinct in the sense that Mr. Cohen’s charges are federal, that primarily deal with election law issues. Mr. Trump’s case deals with the filling of fraudulent business records in order to conceal other criminal activity,” said Charlton.

“I think the motive here is important, in order to benefit his political prospects,” said Charlton.

His charges were all felonies, but were these low level felonies?

“There the lowest felony that the state of New York has, four year maximum sentence, does not mean we won’t get even close to the event of a conviction to that four year maximum sentence,” said Charlton.

How likely in the event of a conviction results in probation?

“Mr. Trump is 72 years old, but we have Mr. Weisselberg his CFO who has spent a number of months in jail after having been convicted on very similar charges, so some time in jail is not beyond the can of possibility,” said Charlton; however, a significant amount of time of probation following a conviction seems unlikely.