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What happened between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump? What happened between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump?
(3 days later)
President Donald Trump denies the allegations made by Stormy DanielsPresident Donald Trump denies the allegations made by Stormy Daniels
Former US President Donald Trump will be charged with a crime over allegations he covered up hush money payments to ex-porn actress Stormy Daniels. Former US President Donald Trump has been charged with business fraud over hush-money payments to ex-porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Ms Daniels claims she and Mr Trump had sex, and that she accepted $130,000 (£100,000) from his former lawyer before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence on the encounter. Ms Daniels claims she and Mr Trump had sex, and that she accepted $130,000 (£104,000) from his former lawyer before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about the encounter.
The lawyer, Michael Cohen, was later jailed on multiple charges.The lawyer, Michael Cohen, was later jailed on multiple charges.
The former president has denied he had any sexual involvement with Ms Daniels since the allegations surfaced in 2018. Since the allegations surfaced in 2018, the former president has denied any sexual involvement with Ms Daniels.
Stormy Daniels goes public with affair claimStormy Daniels goes public with affair claim
Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said in media interviews that she met Mr Trump at a charity golf tournament in July 2006.Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said in media interviews that she met Mr Trump at a charity golf tournament in July 2006.
She alleged the pair had sex once in his hotel room at Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada. A lawyer for Mr Trump "vehemently" denied this at the time.She alleged the pair had sex once in his hotel room at Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada. A lawyer for Mr Trump "vehemently" denied this at the time.
"He didn't seem worried about it. He was kind of arrogant," she said in response to an interviewer's question asking if Mr Trump had told her to keep quiet about their alleged night together."He didn't seem worried about it. He was kind of arrogant," she said in response to an interviewer's question asking if Mr Trump had told her to keep quiet about their alleged night together.
Mr Trump's wife at the time, Melania Trump, was not at the tournament and had just given birth.Mr Trump's wife at the time, Melania Trump, was not at the tournament and had just given birth.
Threats and payments to stay silentThreats and payments to stay silent
In 2016, days before the US presidential election, Ms Daniels said Mr Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 in "hush money" to keep her quiet about the affair.In 2016, days before the US presidential election, Ms Daniels said Mr Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 in "hush money" to keep her quiet about the affair.
She said she took it because she was concerned for the safety of her family. She said she took it because she was concerned for the safety of her family. Ms Daniels said she was legally and physically threatened to stay silent.
Ms Daniels said she was legally and physically threatened to stay silent. What Trump indictment means - a simple guide
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In 2011, shortly after she agreed to give an interview to In Touch magazine about the alleged affair, she said an unknown man had approached her and her infant daughter in a Las Vegas car park and told her to "leave Trump alone".In 2011, shortly after she agreed to give an interview to In Touch magazine about the alleged affair, she said an unknown man had approached her and her infant daughter in a Las Vegas car park and told her to "leave Trump alone".
"That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom," she recalled him saying, in a 2018 interview with CBS's 60 Minutes. "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom," she recalled him saying, in a 2018 interview with CBS' 60 Minutes.
The interview with In Touch would not be published in full until 2018. Before the episode aired, a shell company linked to Mr Cohen threatened Ms Daniels with a $20m lawsuit, arguing she had broken their non-disclosure deal (NDA), or "hush agreement".
Before the 60 Minutes episode aired, a shell company linked to Mr Cohen threatened Ms Daniels with a $20m lawsuit, arguing she had broken their non-disclosure deal (NDA), or "hush agreement".
Ms Daniels told the CBS show she was risking a million-dollar fine by speaking on national television, but "it was very important to me to be able to defend myself".Ms Daniels told the CBS show she was risking a million-dollar fine by speaking on national television, but "it was very important to me to be able to defend myself".
Her interview with In Touch would not be published in full until 2018, three months before the 60 Minutes episode.
Stormy Daniels told CBS News 'I was threatened' in a 2018 interviewStormy Daniels told CBS News 'I was threatened' in a 2018 interview
Stormy Daniels told CBS News 'I was threatened' in a 2018 interviewStormy Daniels told CBS News 'I was threatened' in a 2018 interview
Is it illegal to pay hush money?Is it illegal to pay hush money?
It is not illegal to pay someone compensation in exchange for an NDA.It is not illegal to pay someone compensation in exchange for an NDA.
But what has got Mr Trump into trouble is how Mr Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in his accounts. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the payment was for legal fees. But prosecutors have focused on how Mr Cohen's reimbursement was recorded in Mr Trump's accounts. He is accused of falsifying his business records by categorising the payment as for legal fees.
The payment was also made a month before the presidential election, and Mr Trump's critics argued the money could amount to a campaign violation. The wire transfer came mere days before the presidential election. District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Mr Trump tried "to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public".
In August 2018, Mr Cohen pleaded guilty to tax-evasion and breaking campaign finance rules, in part related to his payment to Ms Daniels and another alleged Trump lover. In August 2018, Mr Cohen was imprisoned after pleading guilty to tax evasion and breaking campaign finance rules, in part related to his payment to Ms Daniels and another alleged Trump lover.
Although he initially said that Mr Trump had nothing to do with the payments, Mr Cohen later testified under oath that Mr Trump had directed him to make the hush payment of $130,000 days before the 2016 election. Although he initially said that Mr Trump had nothing to do with the payments, Mr Cohen later testified under oath that Mr Trump had directed him to make the $130,000 hush payment.
He also said the president reimbursed him for the payment. He also said the president had reimbursed him.
Mr Trump has acknowledged personally reimbursing the payment, which isn't illegal, but denied the affair and any wrongdoing regarding campaign laws.
Trump says hush money payments were legalTrump says hush money payments were legal
'I don't care if Trump paid off a porn star''I don't care if Trump paid off a porn star'
Trump 'secretly recorded' by lawyer CohenTrump 'secretly recorded' by lawyer Cohen
Mr Cohen was jailed on multiple counts after he pleaded guilty to violating laws during the 2016 presidential election.
Why was Trump indicted?Why was Trump indicted?
Earlier this year, New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg set up a grand jury to investigate whether there was enough evidence to pursue a prosecution against the former president over the money paid to Ms Daniels.   Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan criminal court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
A grand jury is held behind closed doors, and set up by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue charges in a case. He was indicted in relation to payments made to Ms Daniels. He is also under investigation in relation to pay-offs to a former Playboy model to keep quiet about her alleged sexual encounters with him.
On Thursday, that jury reportedly voted to bring criminal charges, making Mr Trump the first former US president to face them. It is not yet known what charges will be brought.  On his social media network, Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote in all capital letters that "the radical left Democrats have criminalized the justice system".
On his social media network, Truth Social, Mr Trump called the investigation a political witch-hunt by a "corrupt, depraved, and weaponised justice system".
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Stormy DanielsStormy Daniels
Indictment of Donald Trump
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
United StatesUnited States
Michael CohenMichael Cohen