The Trump Indictment Is Not the Slam-Dunk Case Democrats Wanted (from the ultra-left Slate.com)

Slate ^ | 4/4/2023 | Mark Joseph Stern

[Signalman]

Falsifying business records “with intent to defraud,” by itself, is a mere misdemeanor under New York law. It is only elevated to a Class E felony, punishable by 1–5 years in prison, when committed with “intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof.” So Bragg’s challenge is to prove not only that Trump illegally concealed his hush money payments, but also that he did so in furtherance of another crime. That crime, Bragg’s announcement of the indictment confirms, is a violation of election law: Bragg argues that Trump devised this scheme with the intent to influence the 2016 election by preventing voters from learning of his affair.

The indictment does not indicate exactly how Bragg plans to connect these dots. It does suggest, however, that the district attorney will attempt to frame the payments as part of Trump’s more expansive plot to suppress negative stories that could cost him the 2016 race. If Bragg can persuade a Manhattan jury of this plot beyond a reasonable doubt—and no technical defects cause Merchan to throw out the case—he will secure a felony conviction of the ex-president.

These charges will be difficult to prove.

(This is an excerpt. Please read the entire article).

[cld51860]

Truth.

[Liberty Valance]

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