– The trial focused on the 34 business records at the center of the case
– Prosecutors allege Trump falsified records to cover up reimbursements to Michael Cohen
– Longtime Trump Organization employees testified about the handling of reimbursements
Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan is centered around 34 documents that prosecutors allege were falsified to cover up reimbursements made to Michael Cohen for a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Longtime Trump Organization employees, Jeffrey McConney and Deborah Tarassoff, testified about handling finances and records for the company. Prosecutors presented evidence of emails and invoices that were allegedly falsified to reimburse Cohen.
The purpose of the falsified documents was to cover up the reimbursement to Cohen, who had made a payment to Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. The trial showcased various checks, invoices, and emails that were allegedly manipulated to hide the payments. Former CFO Allen Weisselberg was involved in orchestrating the reimbursements, adding extra amounts to cover taxes and bonuses for Cohen.
Trump’s employees testified about the process of creating and distributing the reimbursement checks to Cohen, with emails showing personal messages attached to each invoice. Trump’s signature was required on each check, leading to logistical challenges when he was in Washington D.C. as president. The trial revolved around detailed accounts of the financial transactions, featuring the involvement of various Trump Organization employees who handled the payments. Despite the dry accounting details, the trial provided a closer look at the inner workings of the Trump Organization’s finances in relation to the hush-money payment scandal.