Manhattan DA reportedly wants to see if Trump Organization falsified Stormy Daniels payment records


First, they came for President Trump's right-hand men. Now, they're coming for his business.
The Manhattan district attorney's office has launched an investigation into the Trump Organization, the collective of businesses owned by Trump, sources tell CBS News. And, like The New York Times revealed Thursday, the D.A. is considering pursuing criminal charges.
On Tuesday, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight charges of financial crimes, including violating campaign laws. The Manhattan investigation centers around Cohen's case, in which the ex-lawyer pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance rules by paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. The payment was made "at the direction of a candidate for federal office," Cohen said. Cohen also acknowledged arranging a payment to a second woman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani previously indicated Trump knew about and reimbursed Cohen for the payment. The D.A. is looking into business records from the reimbursement to see if they were falsified, CBS News says. The fact that this investigation is coming from a district office could have extra implications, as Trump couldn't pardon someone of state convictions, like he's reportedly considering doing with convicted federal felon Paul Manafort.
The news comes just hours after it was reported that the organization's longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, was granted immunity to speak with federal prosecutors. Read more about what a state investigation could mean for Trump here at The Week.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
June 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Thursday's political cartoons include a presidential get-out-of-jail-free card, masked ICE agents, and the Tooth Fairy's message for Senator Joni Ernst
-
Selling sex: why investors are wary of OnlyFans despite record profits
In The Spotlight The platform that revolutionised pornography is for sale – but its value is limited unless it can diversify
-
Garsington Opera opens its summer festival with two 'very different productions'
The Week Recommends A 'fabulous' new staging of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades and Donizetti's fake-love-potion comedy L'elisir d'amore
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect