Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donationsState Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan unsealed the world’s most talked about indictment Tuesday afternoon at the Manhattan Criminal Court on Centre Street, marking the first time a former U.S. president has faced criminal charges.The newly unsealed charges center on an apparent $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.
The payment came from Michael Cohen, who was Trump’s personal attorney and fixer at the time. Cohen, who has already served prison time for his role in the scheme, was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization, complete with a bonus added on top — an allegedly fraudulent business expense that is the focal point of the charges against the former president.