In December 2020, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, was indicted for his role in hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal during the 2016 presidential campaign. The payments were made in order to keep the women quiet about their alleged affairs with Trump, and Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations. Now, nearly three years after the scandal first broke, it appears that poetic justice has been served, as Trump himself has been indicted on similar charges.
Trump’s Hush Money Debacle: A Timeline
The hush money scandal first came to light in January 2018, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Cohen had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. Daniels had signed a non-disclosure agreement, but later went public with her story. Cohen initially denied making the payment on Trump’s behalf, but later admitted to doing so, and also revealed that he had arranged for McDougal to receive $150,000 from the National Enquirer in exchange for her story being buried.
Cohen’s guilty plea in August 2018 marked the first time that anyone connected to Trump had been charged as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He also pleaded guilty to tax evasion and bank fraud, and was sentenced to three years in prison. In July 2019, he was released to home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was granted a full release in May 2021.
Poetic Justice: Indictment of Trump and the Stormy Daniels Scandal
On July 1, 2021, a grand jury in New York indicted the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, on charges of tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records. The charges relate to an alleged scheme to avoid paying taxes on compensation given to Weisselberg and other executives, including free apartments and cars. However, the indictment also mentions the hush money payments to Daniels and McDougal, suggesting that they were part of a pattern of illegal behavior within the company.
While Trump himself has not been indicted in connection with the hush money scandal, legal experts say that he could still face charges down the line. The indictment of the Trump Organization could also increase pressure on Weisselberg to cooperate with prosecutors, potentially leading to more damaging revelations about Trump’s business dealings. For now, though, the indictment represents a significant blow to Trump’s reputation, and a reminder that no one is above the law.
The hush money scandal was just one of the many controversies that dogged Trump’s presidency, but it remains one of the most damning. The fact that he could face criminal charges over his attempts to cover up his affairs with Daniels and McDougal is a fitting end to a presidency defined by corruption and lawlessness. While it remains to be seen how the case will play out, the indictment of the Trump Organization is a sign that justice may finally be catching up with the former president.