Former President Donald Trump is facing serious charges in two cases related to attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. However, a New York case involving payments to silence an adult film actor may be the only legal reckoning this year on whether Trump tried to undermine American democracy.
The New York trial revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records in connection with a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors argue that the payments were part of a criminal scheme to corrupt the election, while Trump’s defense attorney maintains that there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election through legal means.
The charges against Trump in the New York case are felonies, but they are considered less consequential than the charges he faces in the two election-related cases. In those cases, Trump is accused of more direct involvement in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The New York trial is expected to be the only legal test during the campaign of whether Trump attempted to illegally manipulate an election. However, some legal experts have expressed skepticism about connecting the payments to a form of “election interference.” They argue that doing so could diminish the gravity of the other charges against Trump in the public mind.
Despite the skepticism, prosecutors are calling the New York case election interference because they believe it boosts the visibility of the case, which is the only one that is expected to be heard before the election.
The key question in the prosecution’s argument is why were the business records falsified. Their allegation is that “Trump was preventing voters from making an informed decision in the election.” It’s an argument that they believe prosecutors can make to the jury.
The outcome of the New York trial will be closely watched as it could provide the only legal reckoning this year on whether Trump attempted to illegally manipulate an election.
