The sheer number of counts–34 felonies–filed against former President Donald Trump is surprising and appears to be a classic example of a prosecutor “overcharging” a defendant, legal analysts said on April 4 in the aftermath of historic criminal proceedings against the 2024 presidential candidate.
New York prosecutors alleged that Trump directed his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to pay $130,000 in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Trump then illegally reimbursed Cohen for the payment under the guise of a monthly retainer for legal services, court filings said, leading to 34 false entries in New York business records.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Trump “went to great lengths to hide this conduct, causing dozens of false entries in business records to conceal criminal activity, including attempts to violate state and federal election laws.”…