NY prosecutors reveal 'another crime' Trump allegedly tried to conceal with falsified business records

New York prosecutors connected Tuesday revealed nan different crime they declare erstwhile President Trump was trying to conceal erstwhile he allegedly falsified his business records.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump pinch 34 counts of falsifying business records successful nan first degree. In bid for prosecutors to unafraid a criminal conviction, they must person nan assemblage that Trump allegedly committed nan crime of falsifying business records successful "furtherance of different crime." 

TRUMP TRIAL: FORMER PRESIDENT 'INNOCENT,' SAYS DEFENSE AS DA ALLEGES 'CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY'

Trump pleaded not blameworthy to each 34 counts. 

New York charismatic Joshua Steinglass connected Tuesday said nan different crime was a usurpation of a New York rule called "conspiracy to beforehand aliases forestall election."

Prosecutors will effort to beryllium that nan alleged conspiracy was to conceal a conspiracy to unlawfully beforehand his candidacy.

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo makes opening statements arsenic erstwhile U.S. President Donald Trump watches pinch his lawyer Todd Blanche earlier Justice Juan Merchan during Trump's criminal proceedings connected charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to soundlessness porn prima Stormy Daniels successful 2016, successful Manhattan authorities tribunal successful New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024 successful this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

"Any 2 aliases much persons who conspire to beforehand aliases forestall nan predetermination of immoderate personification to a nationalist agency by unlawful intends and which conspiracy is acted upon by 1 aliases much of nan parties thereto, shall beryllium blameworthy of a misdemeanor," New York Law 17-152 reads. 

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, during his opening statement Monday, said nan lawsuit against Trump "is astir a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up." 

Colangelo based on that months aft Trump announced his candidacy for president successful June 2015, he invited erstwhile CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI) David Pecker to Trump Tower for a meeting. His then-attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen was besides astatine nan meeting. AMI owned nan National Inquirer. 

"Those 3 men formed a conspiracy to power nan election," Colangelo argued.

Colangelo claimed Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to "silence" her and make judge nan nationalist did not study of an alleged intersexual brushwood pinch Trump. Colangelo claimed that aft nan election, Trump reimbursed Cohen done a bid of monthly checks from his businesses but claimed that he disguised those payments arsenic payments for ineligible services. 

Colangelo alleged that Pecker, Cohen and Trump "conspired to power nan 2016 statesmanlike election," and said Pecker would stitchery harmful accusation and forestall it from going public. Colangelo alleged he only published flattering stories astir Trump and antagonistic stories astir opponents. 

Colangelo claimed that nan men utilized a believe called "catch & kill," saying they bought damaging information, had nan seller of that accusation motion a non-disclosure statement and past blocked nan accusation from being published. 

Former president Donald Trump arrives to tribunal connected nan first time of opening arguments successful his proceedings astatine Manhattan Criminal Court successful New York, Monday, April 22, 2024.  (Victor J. Blue/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

Colangelo said nan believe was utilized 3 times — erstwhile to artifact a communicative a erstwhile Trump Tower doorman was trying to waste astir an alleged out-of-wedlock child. Colangelo said nan costs was $30,000. The doorman’s communicative was yet proven to beryllium untrue. 

BRAGG SAYS HE WILL TRY TO 'DISCREDIT' TRUMP IF HE TESTIFIES IN HIS DEFENSE DURING CRIMINAL TRIAL

The adjacent costs was to erstwhile Playboy exemplary Karen McDougal, who claimed a romanticist and intersexual narration pinch Trump. Colangelo alleged that Cohen asked AMI to bargain nan story. Colangelo said AMI paid McDougal $150,000 successful speech for "unlimited life rights" to her story. 

Colangelo besides alleged location was a costs made of $130,000 to Daniels. 

Colangelo said that erstwhile it came clip to salary Cohen back, Trump "didn’t discuss nan value down — he doubled it." Colangelo alleged that his "willingness to do this shows nan value of hiding nan payments" and alleged "overall predetermination conspiracy." 

But Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche rejected nan prosecution's argument, declaring: "President Trump is innocent."

"None of this was a crime," Blanche said. "People opportunity that Trump is trying to screen up payments — think… President Trump did not salary Cohen backmost $130,000. He paid Cohen $420,000." 

He added, "Would a frugal businessman repay a $130,000 indebtedness to nan tune of $420,000?" 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 21: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. 

Blanche said that nan money "was not a payback," and said Trump, successful 2017, aft nan election, was paying ineligible fees. 

He added, "I person a spoiler alert — location is thing incorrect pinch trying to power an election. It’s called democracy. They put thing sinister connected it." 

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"There is thing forbidden astir it," Blanche said, arguing that Daniels was attempting to effort to embarrass Trump pinch "all sorts of allegations" that could beryllium "damaging to him and damaging to his family." 

"Trump fought backmost to protect his family, reputation, brand," Blanche said. "And that is not a crime."