Trump Contradicts Own Defense, Admits to NDA in New York Hush-Money Trial

During his ad libbing outside the New York courthouse, former President Donald Trump appeared to provide unintentional ammunition to the prosecution. He admitted to having a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, effectively confirming part of the allegations against him.

Trump's Admissions

Quoting Andrew McCarthy from the National Review, Trump facetiously referred to his own NDA as the "only illegal NDA". Additionally, he responded to lines from McCarthy’s online blog post where he addressed Trump's alleged crime in the context of the election.

“It seems that Trump’s crime by blue state lights was winning the election. That was my crime. I won an election that I wasn’t supposed to win against Hillary Clinton. And that’s not a crime,” Trump said.

This statement is an interesting addition to the ongoing legal battle Trump faces.

Legal Defense

Trump's legal team has previously argued that the funds used to silence Stormy Daniels were solely provided by his fixer, Michael Cohen, and that Trump remained oblivious to these transactions. However, Cohen, in contrast, has repeatedly portrayed Trump as a "micromanager" who was deeply involved in his activities. He claimed they communicated extensively, with Trump being informed about his actions daily through various intermediaries.

Other witnesses in the trial have also indicated that Trump was the implicit source of the hush-money payments, even if it was not explicitly communicated to them at the time.

Charges and Plea

Donald Trump faces 34 felony charges related to alleged falsification of business records with the intent to further an underlying crime. Despite the mounting legal pressure, Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle.