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ElwoodBlues · M
It may not be a crime to pay a sexworker for sex.
It may not be a crime to pay a sexworker for silence.
But is sure as heck IS a crime to list any of those payments as "legal expenses" (which are tax deductible) on your official paperwork.
In Trump's New York hush money trial he is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business documents. That's the actual crime he is charged with.
One more wrinkle: that crime can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on whether it was done with the aim or objective of committing another crime (extra wrinkle: the other crime doesn't have to have been proven in a separate court). In such cases, the other crime is called an object offense.
Looks like both Trump and Cohen filed false tax documents based on the payments, so the "violations of federal, local, and state tax law" (3rd object offense) looks like it will hold up. There are additional witnesses to say the hush money was paid for campaign purposes. That'll enable the 1st & 2nd object offenses.
This is mostly a documents case. There are written notes about paying Cohen back and tax impacts. There are 12 checks from Trump to Cohen. The witnesses are there mostly to tell the story to the jury and explain the meanings of the documents.
It may not be a crime to pay a sexworker for silence.
But is sure as heck IS a crime to list any of those payments as "legal expenses" (which are tax deductible) on your official paperwork.
In Trump's New York hush money trial he is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business documents. That's the actual crime he is charged with.
One more wrinkle: that crime can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on whether it was done with the aim or objective of committing another crime (extra wrinkle: the other crime doesn't have to have been proven in a separate court). In such cases, the other crime is called an object offense.
In his filing, Bragg sets out four potential object offenses: violations of federal campaign finance law under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA); violations of New York Election Law § 17-152; violations of federal, local, and state tax law; and additional falsifications of business records outside the Trump Organization. Merchan allowed Bragg to move forward with the first three theories but tossed out the last one.
Looks like both Trump and Cohen filed false tax documents based on the payments, so the "violations of federal, local, and state tax law" (3rd object offense) looks like it will hold up. There are additional witnesses to say the hush money was paid for campaign purposes. That'll enable the 1st & 2nd object offenses.
This is mostly a documents case. There are written notes about paying Cohen back and tax impacts. There are 12 checks from Trump to Cohen. The witnesses are there mostly to tell the story to the jury and explain the meanings of the documents.
sree251 · 41-45, M
@ElwoodBlues
How many crimes will you be charged with if you were put through the same wringer Trump is going through?
God has a better surveillance system than the US Government. How many counts of lying to your wife and the US Government are there in St, Peter's book?
In Trump's New York hush money trial he is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business documents. That's the actual crime he is charged with.
How many crimes will you be charged with if you were put through the same wringer Trump is going through?
God has a better surveillance system than the US Government. How many counts of lying to your wife and the US Government are there in St, Peter's book?
ElwoodBlues · M
@sree251 None. Our taxes were audited a few years back and we came up clean as a whistle. And I've never absconded with a SINGLE secret government document!!
Boxes containing classified documents that were stored in Mar-a-Lago’s White and Gold Ballroom between January and March 2021. Photo: Department of Justice
In December 2021, a Trump aide found some of the boxes spilled on the floor of the storage room. One document was marked "SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY," meaning it can only be released within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, per the indictment. Photo: DOJ
Jun 09, 2023
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla, Jun 09, 2023 — The indictment unsealed on Friday alleges Trump kept classified documents in the bathroom and shower at his Florida estate, as well as various other locations that included a ballroom, storeroom, office and bedroom.
Prosecutors noted that “tens of thousands of members and guests” visited the “active social club” of Mar-a-Lago between the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021 through the August 2022 search. They argued that “nonetheless” Trump stored documents “in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, and office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.”
[b]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/photos-from-trump-indictment-show-boxes-of-classified-documents-stored-in-mar-a-lago-shower-ballroom[\b]
Boxes containing classified documents that were stored in Mar-a-Lago’s White and Gold Ballroom between January and March 2021. Photo: Department of Justice
In December 2021, a Trump aide found some of the boxes spilled on the floor of the storage room. One document was marked "SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY," meaning it can only be released within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, per the indictment. Photo: DOJ
Jun 09, 2023
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla, Jun 09, 2023 — The indictment unsealed on Friday alleges Trump kept classified documents in the bathroom and shower at his Florida estate, as well as various other locations that included a ballroom, storeroom, office and bedroom.
[b]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/photos-from-trump-indictment-show-boxes-of-classified-documents-stored-in-mar-a-lago-shower-ballroom[\b]
sree251 · 41-45, M
@ElwoodBlues
You are not worth auditing. Don't distract us from your moral standing in the eyes of your wife and God.
None. Our taxes were audited a few years back and we came up clean as a whistle. And I've never absconded with a SINGLE secret government document!!
You are not worth auditing. Don't distract us from your moral standing in the eyes of your wife and God.
MarthannBann888 · 70-79, F
@ElwoodBlues
I appreciate your faith in Bragg as he is on the side you are on, but I will remind you that there was a time when the Supreme Court ruled that black people were not humans and were not eligible for the protections of the constitution. See Dread Scott.
My point is that there are plenty of people in the legal profession who think Bragg is wrong. Bragg is not the final authority.
I appreciate your faith in Bragg as he is on the side you are on, but I will remind you that there was a time when the Supreme Court ruled that black people were not humans and were not eligible for the protections of the constitution. See Dread Scott.
My point is that there are plenty of people in the legal profession who think Bragg is wrong. Bragg is not the final authority.
MarthannBann888 · 70-79, F
@ElwoodBlues
That looks more like Joe’s garage, and those photos are not the ones shown last year when Mar-a- Lago was raided. You may have gotten the wrong photos.
That looks more like Joe’s garage, and those photos are not the ones shown last year when Mar-a- Lago was raided. You may have gotten the wrong photos.
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MarthannBann888 · 70-79, F