Trump indictment fact checks: What's true and false among claims, images from hush money probe
Former President Donald Trump was placed under arrest at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on April 4 following his unprecedented indictment by a Manhattan grand jury on March 30 – the first time a former president has been criminally charged.
Trump pled not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to two women who alleged they had sexual relations with Trump.
In the leadup to Trump's indictment and arraignment, fabricated images of Trump and false and misleading claims about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the hush money probe and past presidents sparked confusion online.
Here's a roundup of viral claims that USA TODAY debunked:
Claims about Alvin Bragg and Manhattan probe
Claim: Order for Stormy Daniels to pay Trump legal fees shows indictment is 'absurd and fake'
Our rating: False
The court order is related to a 2018 defamation case adult film actress Stormy Daniels filed against former President Donald Trump. The case is unrelated to Trump's Manhattan indictment, numerous legal experts said. Read more.
Claim: Post implies Stormy Daniels' statement is new
Our rating: Missing context
The statement in question was released in 2018 and shows adult film actress Stormy Daniels denying an affair with Trump. Daniels later said the statement was a lie and that she felt forced to sign it because of a non-disclosure agreement she had previously signed. Read more.
Claim: Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000 in 'hush money'
Our rating: False
Multiple legal experts said Clinton’s $850,000 payment to Jones as part of a settlement agreement is not considered "hush money" since the facts of the case were already publicly known. Read more.
Claim: Alvin Bragg shut down New York City, called up 38,000 officers, closed FDR Drive and spent $200 million in city funds
Our rating: False
Bragg did not order New York City to be shut down, and that didn't happen. The New York Police Department did close a part of FDR Drive, but this was not on Bragg’s order. Bragg does not oversee the NYPD and has no authority to call up officers. There's no proof the $200 million figure is correct. Read more.
Fact check explainer: Trump and other Republicans tie George Soros to Alvin Bragg. Experts say connection is mischaracterized
Soros did not directly donate to Bragg, and a third-party group Soros donated to also didn't make direct donations, opting instead for an independent expenditure campaign. A Soros spokesperson also said that Soros and Bragg have never met. Read more.
Fabricated images and videos
Claim: Photos show Donald Trump being arrested
Our rating: Altered
Trump had not been not arrested by law enforcement officers at the time the post was shared. The creator of two images in the post confirmed they were computer-generated. The other two images are not authentic either, according to a forensic expert. Read more.
Claim: Video shows Alvin Bragg dropping charges against Donald Trump and resigning
Our rating: Altered
The video's audio is altered. Bragg's office was still investigating Trump at the time. Read more.
Claim: Image shows a mugshot of Trump
Our rating: Altered
Trump did not have his mugshot taken on April 4 when he was placed under arrest. Forensics experts said numerous features show the image is fabricated. Read more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump indictment fact checks: What's true and false among viral claims
