What Were the 34 Felony Counts Against Trump?
In January 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team announced the indictment of Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, on 13 felony counts, including conspiracy against the United States, money laundering, and tax fraud. The indictment sparked widespread media coverage and intense scrutiny of Trump’s presidential campaign and potential ties to Russia.
As the investigation continued, more charges were filed against Manafort and his business partner, Rick Gates. In October 2017, Manafort and Gates were charged with 12 felony counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, and making false statements.
But what about Trump himself?
Trump was never formally charged with any felony counts by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. However, there were 34 potential felony counts mentioned in the 12-count indictment against Paul Manafort, which could be relevant to Trump’s activities.
Here’s a breakdown of the 34 felony counts mentioned in the Manafort indictment:
Conspiracy Against the United States
- Five counts of conspiracy against the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371)
- Two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371)
Money Laundering
- Five counts of money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956)
- One count of money laundering conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h))
Tax Fraud
- Four counts of tax fraud (26 U.S.C. § 7206(1))
- One count of failing to file tax returns (26 U.S.C. § 7203)
Making False Statements
- Seven counts of making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001)
Other Offenses
- Two counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts (31 U.S.C. § 5314)
- One count of failing to file a report of foreign bank and financial accounts (31 U.S.C. § 5314)
- One count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) (22 U.S.C. § 618)
Why were these counts relevant to Trump?
While Trump was never formally charged with any felony counts, these charges could be relevant to his activities in several ways:
- Trump Tower Moscow: The indictment mentioned a potential quid pro quo arrangement between Manafort and a Russian businessman, Kirill Dmitriev, to build a Trump Tower in Moscow in exchange for political favors. This could be seen as a potential violation of FARA and could implicate Trump in a conspiracy.
- Ukraine and the Manafort-Gates operation: The indictment also mentioned a scheme to launder millions of dollars through offshore bank accounts and to use that money to fund Manafort’s lavish lifestyle. This scheme could have been used to bribe Ukrainian officials or to hide the source of the money, which could be seen as a potential violation of money laundering and tax fraud laws.
- Trump’s role in the campaign: The indictment also mentioned Trump’s role in the campaign, including his interactions with Manafort and Gates. While Trump was not a formal party to the conspiracy, his involvement could be seen as a potential violation of conspiracy and money laundering laws.
Conclusion
While Trump was never formally charged with any felony counts, the 34 potential felony counts mentioned in the Manafort indictment could be relevant to his activities. These charges highlight the complexity and scope of the Mueller investigation, which involved multiple crimes and numerous individuals.
