# 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:** 72
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:14am 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-30-2024/980953/1421 "2024-04-16T01:14:12Z")
Re my previous mention of a 2016 Trump campaign arbitration fee, I am no longer afraid it was a bit of a hijack. Turns out it is another example, in the same campaign cycle, of Trump paying off a woman to give up her first amendment right to disclose Donald’s alleged bad behavior: [$300,000 Arbitration Win, Defeating Trump Campaign](https://www.tzlegal.com/our-successes/trump-campaign-ordered-to-pay-staffer-over-300000/) > [@](#): > > The incident in question occurred during a campaign stop on August 24, 2016, inside a campaign recreational vehicle (RV) in front of other staffers. It was alleged that then-candidate Trump took Ms. Johnson’s hand, pulled her close, and attempted to kiss her on the mouth. Ms. Johnson initially sued the campaign and Trump, but later withdrew the lawsuit. Subsequently, the Trump campaign accused Ms. Johnson of violating the NDA, leading to the arbitration process. Notably, the arbitrator highlighted the campaign’s use of the unenforceable NDA to silence Ms. Johnson, stating that even if that was not their motive, the NDA’s enforcement was inappropriate due to its unconstitutionality. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:14am 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-30-2024/980953/1422 "2024-04-16T01:14:42Z")
Hope Hicks, who I understand was interviewed by the prosecution, is the witness that intrigues me. Why would the prosecution want her on the stand? Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:18am 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-30-2024/980953/1423 "2024-04-16T01:18:48Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I mean … if Trump has diagnosed Sleep Apnea, snoring could constitute Obstruction. David. In a corner, NOW, and think of how disappointed ALL of us are in you. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:34am 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-30-2024/980953/1424 "2024-04-16T01:34:55Z")
I read somewhere that Hicks will make the connection between the payment to Stormy snd the campaign’s panix about the grabby video- Hicks can probably authenicate some emails and texts on that subject ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 1:35am 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-30-2024/980953/1425 "2024-04-16T01:35:19Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Hope Hicks, who I understand was interviewed by the prosecution, is the witness that intrigues me. Why would the prosecution want her on the stand? I believe she sent out an email to the campaign about “damage control” after the Access Hollywood tape came out. I’m not sure if she was involved in any of the other hush money discussions. [https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cohen-hope-hicks-told-me-we-need-to-spin-this-after-the-access-hollywood-tape-dropped](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cohen-hope-hicks-told-me-we-need-to-spin-this-after-the-access-hollywood-tape-dropped) ---
**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:** [April 16, 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-30-2024/980953/1426 "2024-04-16T01:38:12Z")
Thanks for that post. Very helpful. Along with your Hope Hicks post I think it should be enough. It’s just a matter of how it comes across to the jury. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 1:42am 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-30-2024/980953/1427 "2024-04-16T01:42:17Z")
Yes, I read that she’s being called to make the connection to the campaign, to support the argument that it was an election related expense, and debunk the “I just didn’t want Malenia to find out” defence. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 1:50am 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-30-2024/980953/1428 "2024-04-16T01:50:58Z")
I thought I read or heard reported that Michael Cohen provided audio tapes of himself, Pecker, Trump and others actually discussing the true purpose of the catch-and-kill scheme and that those were ruled admissible. Trump won’t testify to refute this stuff, so it seems like Bragg’s team has pretty much got him cold on the intent issue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:53am 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-30-2024/980953/1429 "2024-04-16T01:53:32Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > That way, he could be Truthing within seconds of leaving the courtroom. Are his posts relevant to what was going on in the courtroom or are they just random “the judge is biased” type stuff? If the posts are generic, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t have set them to get posted automatically, even while he didn’t have phone access. For that matter, couldn’t someone else be posting, from his account, during that time? > [@Andy\_L](#): > > I read somewhere that Hicks will make the connection between the payment to Stormy snd the campaign’s panix about the grabby video- Hicks can probably authenicate some emails and texts on that subject I don’t know if she was present, but there’s audio tapes of Cohen/Guiliani/Trump discussing the amount of money, the shell corporation they set up and some of the other details. But I don’t see it mentioned all that often, so maybe it’s not as relevant as I assumed it was. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:54am 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-30-2024/980953/1430 "2024-04-16T01:54:37Z")
Google “trump cohen tapes” and you’ll find them. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 1:56am 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-30-2024/980953/1431 "2024-04-16T01:56:01Z")
Thank you! Will do. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 2:10am 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-30-2024/980953/1432 "2024-04-16T02:10:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m not disputing what you say about Canada, but we also have requirements for public trials and side bars are not considered any violation of that rule. Yes, the discussion just illustrates that even basic concepts like a “public trial” can have different meanings in different jurisdictions. We actually had a case awhile ago where a very junior lawyer running their first major jury trial had an issue about scheduling a witness and asked “May we approach the bench, My Lord?” The judge gently advised him that anything he had to say to the judge had to be said in open court, with the people in the audience able to hear it. And in a thought bubble over the judge’s head: “Has this kid ever taken a crim pro class, or just watched _Law and Order_?!?” ---
**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:** [April 16, 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-30-2024/980953/1433 "2024-04-16T02:16:54Z")
Or – in the alternative – [https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/24/politics/michael-cohen-donald-trump-tape/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/24/politics/michael-cohen-donald-trump-tape/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 2:17am 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-30-2024/980953/1434 "2024-04-16T02:17:13Z")
I see that Trump has spun Merchan’s ‘you can have the day off for Barron’s graduation as long as things are still on schedule’ [to](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-laments-that-hes-treated-like-any-other-defendant-after-day-1-of-criminal-trial): “Looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son…the judge will not allow me to escape this scam, the scam trial.” Someone needs to tell him that missing important milestones in your child’s life is a very common and well known occupational hazard of being a criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 2:24am 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-30-2024/980953/1435 "2024-04-16T02:24:27Z")
In case you were wondering how important attending his kids’ graduations is to Loser Donald, Twitter has your answer; > > > > ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 2:33am 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-30-2024/980953/1436 "2024-04-16T02:33:45Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > In case you were wondering how important attending his kids’ graduations is to Loser Donald, Twitter has your answer; Thanks for that. With that kind of track record, I’m sure that Donald won’t use the day to attend Barron’s graduation; or if he does, he’ll make a quick photo stop at the school just to say that he used the day to attend. Then he’ll leave the school and spend the rest of the day campaigning. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 2:41am 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-30-2024/980953/1437 "2024-04-16T02:41:32Z")
But we’ll get together then You know we’ll have a good time then ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 2:57am 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-30-2024/980953/1438 "2024-04-16T02:57:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > In case you were wondering how important attending his kids’ graduations is to Loser Donald, Twitter has your answer; I think this is a more reliable source: > [@](#): > > When Donald and Ivana dropped him off in 1997, as knowing parents whispered and giggled at the celebrity sighting, Donald Trump asked Eric’s 13-year-old roommate, “Are you going to take care of my boy?” > > Students recall he wouldn’t return to Hill until Eric’s graduation day in 2002, an event his mother missed, apparently for the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix, a student recalled and news reports suggest. Here is evidence that DJT attended Tiffany’s high school graduation: > **[Opinion: To Donald Trump, from the undocumented immigrant who graduated...](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-undocumented-donald-trump-tiffany-20161108-story.html)** > > Dear Donald, I’m sure you don’t remember me. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 2:59am 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-30-2024/980953/1439 "2024-04-16T02:59:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I see that Trump has spun Merchan’s ‘you can have the day off for Barron’s graduation as long as things are still on schedule’ [to](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-laments-that-hes-treated-like-any-other-defendant-after-day-1-of-criminal-trial): > “Looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son…the judge will not allow me to escape this scam, the scam trial.” Translation: “_He expects me to control myself. Everyone know I can’t control myself_.” ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 3:01am 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-30-2024/980953/1440 "2024-04-16T03:01:11Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > I’m waiting to see if Don falls asleep tomorrow or gets extra tweaked up after seeing the ridicule. It’s going to take a precise cocktail to keep him awake without making him manic enough to get into more trouble. I daresay his lawyers have Ronny Jackson on “speed” dial. [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=71) [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=73)