The Trump Organization noted the reimbursements as a legal expense in its internal books. That is a Class E felony and carries a sentence of a minimum of one year and as much as four years. Prosecutors are also weighing whether to charge Trump with falsifying business records in the first degree for falsifying a record with the intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal another crime, which in this case could be a violation of campaign finance laws. Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor in New York. Prosecutors are weighing whether to charge Trump with falsifying the business records of the Trump Organization for how it reflected the reimbursement of the payment to Michael Cohen, Trump's then-fixer who said he advanced the money to Daniels. In a lengthy response on his Truth Social account Thursday night, Trump said in part, "I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels." The investigation relates to a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in late October 2016, days before the 2016 presidential election, to silence her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump a decade earlier. For the past five years, the DA's office has been on a Witch Hunt, investigating every aspect of President Trump's life, and they've come up empty at every turn - and now this," Trump's spokesman said in a statement to CNN. "The Manhattan District Attorney's threat to indict President Trump is simply insane. The district attorney's office has declined to comment to CNN on the case and any timing regarding possible indictments.
Former Trump White House aides Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway recently appeared before the grand jury. His legal team has been concerned with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's intentions because of recently ramped up activity at the grand jury, according to another source familiar with the matter. Trump's lawyer recently met with the district attorney's office, one source told CNN. In addition to the New York City investigation, Fulton County, Georgia, prosecutors have been probing the effort by Trump and his allies to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, and a Justice Department special counsel is investigating Trump's role in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and Trump's handling of classified material after he left office. Trump is facing criminal inquiries related to his activities before, during and after his presidency. He has said he "wouldn't even think about leaving" the race if charged. Trump would be the first former president ever indicted and also the first major presidential candidate under indictment seeking office. It's not clear when Trump would need to make a decision on the grand jury invitation extended by the Manhattan district attorney's office, nor whether there's a firm deadline. The former president decided the morning of his deposition with the New York attorney general's office investigating the Trump Organization's finances to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and not answer questions, people familiar with the matter previously told CNN.
He has previously weighed advice from several lawyers and sometimes makes last-minute decisions. Trump will meet with his legal team in Mar-a-Lago this weekend to consider his options and possibly make a decision on whether to appear before the grand jury, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. The New York Times first reported the development. Potential defendants in New York are required by law to be notified and invited to appear before a grand jury weighing charges. (CNN) - Manhattan prosecutors have invited former President Donald Trump to appear before the grand jury investigating his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up, a person familiar with the matter said, indicating a decision on charging Trump may come soon. By Kara Scannell, Kristen Holmes and Jack Forrest, CNN
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