Donald Trump
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Trump took charge of his family's real-estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six bankruptcies. Trump entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and defeated 16 other candidates in the primaries. His political positions have been described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. He won the general election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote. Trump's presidency was marked by controversy, including his policies on immigration, trade, and foreign policy. He was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was acquitted by the Senate. He was impeached again in 2021 for inciting the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, but was again acquitted by the Senate. Trump's presidency was also marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which he initially downplayed. He was defeated in the 2020 presidential election by Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Trump has continued to make false claims about the election, and has hinted at a possible run for president in 2024.

Hush Money Criminal Trial
The Hush Money Criminal Trial refers to the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump in New York City, where he was accused of falsifying business records to cover up payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. The trial focused on whether Trump's actions were intended to influence the election and whether he violated New York state law by falsifying business records. The trial concluded with Trump's conviction on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Falsifying Business Records
Falsifying business records is a crime in many jurisdictions, including New York State. It involves the intentional alteration or creation of false records for a business or organization. In Trump's case, the charges stemmed from allegations that he falsified business records to conceal payments made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, during the 2016 presidential election. The prosecution argued that these payments were made to suppress negative information about Trump and influence the election, while the defense argued that the payments were personal in nature and not related to the election.

Election Conspiracy
The Election Conspiracy refers to the prosecution's theory in Trump's Hush Money Criminal Trial that Trump, along with his former lawyer Michael Cohen and the former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, conspired to suppress negative news about Trump during the 2016 presidential election. The prosecution argued that the payments made to Stormy Daniels were part of this conspiracy, and that Trump falsified business records to conceal these payments. The jury ultimately found Trump guilty of falsifying business records, but did not explicitly rule on the existence of an election conspiracy.

Stormy Daniels
Stormy Daniels is an American adult film actress and director. She is known for her legal battle with former President Donald Trump, who allegedly paid her $130,000 in hush money during the 2016 presidential election to silence her about an alleged affair with him. Daniels's lawsuit against Trump, which alleged that the hush money agreement was invalid, led to a high-profile legal battle and ultimately contributed to Trump's impeachment by the House of Representatives in 2019.

Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen is an American lawyer and former businessman who served as a personal attorney and fixer for former President Donald Trump. Cohen was a key figure in the Hush Money Criminal Trial, as he was the one who allegedly made the payment to Stormy Daniels on Trump's behalf. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including campaign finance violations, and testified against Trump in the trial. Cohen's testimony was crucial to the prosecution's case, as he provided firsthand evidence of Trump's involvement in the hush money scheme.

David Pecker
David Pecker is an American businessman who served as the former CEO of American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer. Pecker was a close friend of Donald Trump and was involved in the hush money scheme, as he allegedly agreed to pay Daniels $150,000 to suppress her story about an alleged affair with Trump. Pecker's testimony in Trump's trial was significant, as he provided evidence of Trump's involvement in the scheme and his willingness to suppress negative news about himself.

New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. It is one of the most prestigious and influential newspapers in the world, known for its in-depth reporting and investigative journalism. The New York Times played a significant role in covering Trump's Hush Money Criminal Trial, providing detailed coverage of the proceedings and analysis of the legal and political implications of the case.