# Manhattan Prosecutors file criminal charges for Trump re Stormy Daniels case - ongoing discussion here (Guilty on all 34 counts, May 30, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 9, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953 "2023-03-09T22:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/941 "2024-02-01T22:04:10Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The background, which must have been discussed earlier in the thread, is that two Manhattan ADA’s [wanted to indict Trump for racketeering](https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-considered-charging-trump-with-racketeering-book-2023-2), but Bragg thought he needed a narrower case to win. So those two men resigned, and Bragg pursued the business records case. Your post accurately describes that article. I read the book it’s based on, and the details in the book might distract from the facts of this case and it will all be from the divided DA’s side, not a typical made-up Trump distraction. I’m using your post as a jumping off point, so writing the below for everyone… Before Bragg, the DA was Vance. To help the understaffed DA’s team/bring in new perspectives, in Feb 2021 he brought on a former federal prosecutor - Pomerantz - the guy who wrote the book. Had to be sworn in as an ADA, but really just a consultant. The styles between the State (conservative charging) and former-Feds (creative charging) are very different. There was friction. Prior to Vance leaving, they had considered and did not charge the Stormy Daniels case (referred to as the “zombie case” as they kept discussing it and always deciding not to charge it). They spent a long time investigating everything Trump. It appeared they would ultimately charge the broad racketeering case (a creative charge), but nothing was formalized before Vance left and Bragg came on. When Bragg came on, he _decided_ not to bring the racketeering charges and to not charge Trump and made that public. In Feb 2022, Pomerantz and the lead investigator (a “Vance” guy) resigned in protest of that decision and explained their reasoning via emails. Pomerantz then wrote a book explaining why this was so wrong. When the book was released (Feb 2023)/or when it was known what was going to be in it (2022) - Bragg revived the Zombie case and charged Trump with that. The book reads, word for word, emails/letters written to Vance, to Bragg, etc about the what’s and the whys. Kind of feels in poor taste, but I imagine this will all be used to cry witch hunt (ie, Bragg was pressured into bringing the zombie case charges after it had been declined many times and after he decided to not charge anything). I’ll add, I read that book awhile back and going off memory for all of this but just wanted to give a flavor of what’s out there from a former ADA that worked on this case…happy to be corrected on any over-simplifications or errors. Again, the above is just the _books point of view_. And I don’t think Pomerantz version is how all this actually went down. But you do have the airing of dirty laundry for all to see. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/942 "2024-02-02T02:09:07Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > It’s all the stuff Michael Cohen, you know, actually went to jail for. And where the term “Individual One” comes from. trump was Cohen’s co-conspirator. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/943 "2024-02-02T03:40:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I guess Trump didn’t learn from Nixon. That loser? Not a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/944 "2024-02-15T18:30:48Z")
[Trump’s New York hush-money case will start March 25. It’s the first of his criminal trials (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/judge-sets-march-trial-date-in-donald-trumps-new-york-hush-money-case/ar-BB1iiKTA) I KNOW this isn’t the correct thread to post this, but there are so many different Trump is in legal peril threads now, and I don’t see one for the NY hush money/2016 election interference trial. Seems like this one will be the first criminal trial to tee up. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/945 "2024-02-15T18:33:31Z")
Is that … this thread? > [@Manhattan Prosecutors file criminal charges for Trump re Stormy Daniels case - ongoing discussion here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here/980953): > > It’s the Stormy Daniels situation. The Manhattan district attorney’s office recently signaled to Donald J. Trump’s lawyers that he could face criminal charges for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn star, the strongest indication yet that prosecutors are nearing an indictment of the former president, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. If so … @Aspenglow … would you be so kind …?? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/946 "2024-02-15T19:10:37Z")
Will do. And thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/947 "2024-02-15T19:44:17Z")
Cohen went to jail for this. Seems fair that Trump would. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/948 "2024-02-16T14:32:29Z")
I believe he served about three years for it. I would be perfectly okay with it if Trump served three years for the same crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/949 "2024-02-23T02:04:03Z")
So… March 25 for Jury selection. Seems like Trump’s lawyers might be out of delays in this one. How long is the trial supposed to last? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/950 "2024-02-23T02:07:16Z")
I believe 5-6 weeks, until late April, early may. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/951 "2024-02-23T04:01:45Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > I believe he served about three years for it. I would be perfectly okay with it if Trump served three years for the same crimes. Bragg charged Trump with different crimes than those Michael Cohen was convicted of, the latter including lying in congressional testimony. [Politico said last year:](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/02/trump-prison-sentence-risk-00109544) > [@](#): > > The case that appears least likely to put Trump away is the prosecution by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which charged Trump with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to cover up an alleged affair with a porn star. > > In that case, Trump is charged with 34 felony counts under New York law, and each count carries a maximum sentence of four years. But legal experts say judges seldom sentence first-time offenders to any prison time for that crime. In my value system, bribing someone to give up their free speech rights should be a serious crime. If it was, Trump would be guilty many times over due to his requiring employees to sign non-disclosure agreements. But in today’s United States, such bribery, outside the campaign financing context, is allowed. As to whether he is guilty as charged, I will likely respect the jury verdict. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/952 "2024-02-23T14:05:53Z")
“First time offender” and “34 counts” feels discordant to me. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/953 "2024-02-23T15:04:19Z")
Some people start their criminal career with a bang! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/954 "2024-02-23T16:10:20Z")
Not with a bang, but with a whimper (of victimhood and persecution cries). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/955 "2024-02-23T17:23:18Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Some people start their criminal career with a bang! And it just mushrooms from there… ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/956 "2024-02-23T17:58:53Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > As to whether he is guilty as charged, I will likely respect the jury verdict. Likely? Could you expand on that? Specifically in what circumstances would you not respect the jury verdict? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/957 "2024-02-24T02:16:09Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > . . . I will likely respect the jury verdict. > > Likely? Could you expand on that? Specifically in what circumstances would you not respect the jury verdict? Most politicians, who are jury trial defendants, are convicted, but politico acquittals are also common. After four Trump felony trial verdicts, if it gets that far, there will be a lot to discuss. Claims have been made that Trump engages in witness tampering, but he has never been convicted of that, or any other crime. What can I say now except that I will likely respect the jury verdicts regardless of how they go? ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/958 "2024-02-27T07:28:40Z")
# Prosecutors seek Trump gag order in NY hush money criminal case - 26 Feb 24. NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Prosecutors have asked a judge for a gag order to restrict Donald Trump from making public comments about witnesses or exposing the identities of jurors in the former president’s New York trial involving hush money paid to a porn star, court filings made public on Monday showed. The requests by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office noted Trump’s “longstanding history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, judges and others involved in legal proceedings against him.” Trump lawyers - free speech, election interference, blah blah. Trump - He has denied any such relationship. The usual never met her. In Spite of the canceled check and recordings of him authorizing the payment. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/959 "2024-02-27T18:13:58Z")
[This will be a criminal trial](https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-seeks-block-stormy-daniels-michael-cohen-testimony-hush-money-trial-2024-02-27/) about the fraud related to the notorious hush money payments to hide the mushroom penis. Not surprisingly, the defense team wants to suppress testimony by Stormy Stephanie Clifford and Michael Cohen and bar prosecution from saying that the alleged payments were about election influencing.       The prosecution, meanwhile, wants a court order to enjoin Individual-ONE from engaging in stochastic terrorism (publicly disparaging witnesses and probably court staff). Should be all kinds of fun. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/960 "2024-02-28T01:38:47Z")
Glenn Kirschner “This is like something a 3rd grader with no legal training would come up with” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcrgpJ6ki0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcrgpJ6ki0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=49)