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The much-awaited charges against Donald Trump show Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) plans to largely rest on campaign laws to prosecute the former president for obscuring his reimbursement of hush money payments.

But sprinkled into charging documents and public statements from Bragg are references to tax law violations — a sign New York prosecutors may be hedging their bets by bringing a broader case against the former president.

Trump was charged on 34 felony counts during his arraignment Tuesday, each stemming from an arrangement Trump made with fixer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The case is built on falsification of business records charges, with prosecutors arguing the “unlawful scheme” violated election laws.

“The defendant orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the defendant’s electoral prospects,” Bragg’s office wrote in a statement of facts accompanying the bare bones indictment.

Hush money payments are not illegal, but when Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payoff, the funds were characterized as legal expenses.

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor under New York law, one that can be bumped to a felony when done to obscure another crime.

The financial crimes that serve as the underlying basis for Trump’s prosecution are what Bragg referred to as the “bread and butter” of his office, located in the financial capital of the world.

But in hanging much of the case on election laws, Bragg delves into more complex territory, one that requires demonstrating the payments were made in an effort to influence the election as well as grappling with Trump’s status as a federal candidate in the state-level prosecution.

Bragg outlined two voting statutes he alleges Trump violated.

“The scheme violated New York election law, which makes it a crime to conspire to promote a candidacy by unlawful means. The $130,000 wire payment exceeded the federal campaign contribution cap,” he said.

Bragg’s choice of state law is a telling one. In choosing that statute, the prosecutor sidestepped other options under New York law, including those dealing with state campaign finance violations that may have problematic language when it comes to dealing with a federal candidate.

Meanwhile, exceeding campaign contribution limits, a federal crime, is the same crime Cohen pleaded guilty to, one that will require showing the spending was done to influence the election.

Trump’s attorneys have already begun to counter both. Todd Blanche, defense attorney for former President Trump, leaves Manhattan criminal court April 4 in New York. Trump appeared in a New York City courtroom on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation, the first president ever to be charged with a crime. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

They’ve argued the payout to Daniels via Cohen was not to win the election, but rather save Trump’s marriage by burying the story of a sexual encounter he denies. And they’ve said that the state doesn’t have the power to prosecute Trump, a federal candidate, on either state or federal charges, asserting that such charges would have to come from a federal prosecutor.

“We’re not going to get to a jury… I think this case is going to fall on its merits, on legal challenges well before we get to a jury,” Trump attorney Joe Tacopina said in a Wednesday morning interview on NBC News.

Bragg does appear to have evidence Trump saw the payout through the lens of the election. Trump allegedly told Cohen, according to paraphrasing of the conversation detailed in court documents, that “if they could delay the payment until after the election, they could avoid paying altogether, because at that point it would not matter if the story became public.”

Norm Eisen, counsel for Democrats in Trump’s first impeachment, has encouraged Bragg to bring charges under both federal and state election laws.

“Look, it can’t be that Donald Trump lives in some special universe when neither state nor federal campaign law applies to him. It has to be that one or the other applies, and I don’t think that a judge is going to buy into that Catch-22,” he told The Hill.

But Bragg implied there may be more charges to the case.

The statement of facts notes that Trump’s organization inflated payments to Cohen to account for the taxes the fixer would have to pay on what was being reported as income rather than a reimbursement. 

“If Trump knows about that, was aware of that, and approved of the falsification of the records in order to conceal the hush money payments and in order to allow Michael Cohen to get a full repayment for the hush money payments he had made, then the tax violation here — offering a false instrument for filing — is in fact one of the crimes that is being covered up through the falsification of business records,” said Josh Stanton, an attorney with Perry Guha who has penned analyses of Bragg’s case. 

The documents say Trump and others “mischaracterized, for tax purposes, the true nature of the payments made in furtherance of the scheme,” but when asked to elaborate, Bragg declined.

“I’m not going to go beyond the plain language in the statement of facts, we think it speaks for itself,” he said in a press conference with reporters just after Trump’s arraignment concluded.

Eisen said the tax statute does give Bragg additional options as he builds his case. Attorneys aren’t expected in court again until December on the matter.

“The DA is notifying Trump and all of us this may be an issue that he will litigate at trial. You know, it’s very common for prosecutors to cast a broad net and then to focus in on their case,” Eisen said.

“Think of it this way. There’s two campaign finance [violations]. There’s state campaign finance violations; federal campaign finance violations — that’s belt and suspenders. This is an additional possibility. Think of it as belt, suspenders, and duct tape. He’s taking no chances on holding up his case, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Trump on Tuesday pleaded not guilty on all 34 counts, but it’s still not entirely clear what charges Bragg plans to bring.

Trump’s attorneys must file a bill of particulars in order to get the full scope of Bragg’s claims.

“They do not have to specify the crime at this juncture; they will have to down the road. And the best way to read the sprinkling of the reference to potential tax violation is that they are clearly reserving the right to use that state tax statute as a third way of elevating what would ordinarily be a misdemeanor into a felony,” said Jeff Robbins, a former prosecutor now in private practice.

The dozens of charges reflect each of the checks that Trump signed to Cohen, at least nine of which he signed directly. 

Stanton noted it’s not unusual for prosecutors to hold back on some elements of their case. House GOP probe into Trump indictment spurs new battle Trump’s New York legal drama: What’s next

“This is a lot of counts, but it’s really a simple indictment: Trump is charged with falsifying business records in his repayments to Michael Cohen through 11 checks in 2017, including nine he signed personally,” he said. 

“The detailed Statement of Facts makes plain that Bragg is pursuing both campaign finance violations, as well as tax offenses to bump up the charges to felonies. He need not say that outright in the indictment. Indeed, that’s normal.” 

Updated at 5:36 p.m.

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Labor Day Sales from Anker SOLIX, Jackery, and Rad Power Bikes, score massive $683 savings on Luckeep X1 Lite e-bike at $466, more

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August 22, 2025

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Labor Day Sales from Anker SOLIX, Jackery, and Rad Power Bikes, score massive 3 savings on Luckeep X1 Lite e-bike at 6, more

Closing out this week’s Green Deals is several holiday sales from some of our favorite brands, lead by Anker’s SOLIX Labor Day Sale that is taking up to 61% off power stations and solar bundles starting from $120. We also have further Labor Day Sales from Jackery (up to 50% off with bonus 5% and 7% savings) and Rad Power Bikes, a massive $683 price drop on Luckeep’s X1 Lite Folding All-Terrain e-bike at $466, and much more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Lectric Labor Day Sale with the $500 price cut on the ONE e-bike to a new low, Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 deals, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Review: The ST3 Pro e-scooter brings serious suspension alongside smart controls and more as Navee’s latest flagship

As a long-time rider of Segway electric scooters, my expectations are quite high for new brands looking to climb their way up to the standard that the household-name has set in stone at this point. Only within the last few months did Navee come onto my radar, with the brand offering me the chance to test out its latest flagship model, the ST3 Pro Electric Scooter, which has been quite the surprise, to say the least. At first, it seemed like it was full of gimmicks that were destined to fail, but after riding around for several weeks now, I can happily say that Segway may just have found a new challenger. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this high-end e-scooter that still retains accessible pricing for the stunning list of features.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new flagship e-scooter, be sure to check out our review here.

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Anker SOLIX power stations

Save up to 61% on Anker SOLIX power stations and solar bundles during its Labor Day Sale – deals start from $120

Anker has launched its Labor Day Sale running through August 30 and taking up to 61% off the brand’s lineup of power stations, solar bundles, accessories, and more. Coinciding with the new pre-launch promotion on the upcoming C1000 Gen 2 station, we spotted Anker dropping its first-gen C1000 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel and protective waterproof bag back to $729 shipped for the second time. This bundle normally fetches $1,598 in full, which we saw discounts take as low as $799 until last month’s Prime Day Sale when it hit this low price for the first time. At Amazon, you’ll only find the station and solar panel pairing for $700 shipped, so you’re getting the waterproof bag (valued at $100) for $30 more. This is a 54% markdown that cuts $869 off the tag for a second chance at the best price we have tracked. Head below to browse this sale’s full lineup.

The Anker SOLIX C1000 power station is one of the brand’s best compact backup power companions for camping trips, right alongside the smaller C800 Plus, C300 series, and C200. While not as big as its home backup models, it still brings a solid 1,056Wh LiFePO4 battery (expandable up to 2,112Wh) along for your off-grid adventures with 11 output ports that provide up to 1,800W of steady power that can surge as high as 2,400W. It can refill its own battery to 80% in 43 minutes through a standard AC outlet, with it taking 58 minutes to reach full. There’s also the 600W max solar input that can recharge it in 1.8 hours, so with the included 200W panel, you’re looking at things taking a little longer, around five or so hours. And your solar setup gets the added protection of the waterproof bag that fits the station and keeps it safer from the elements.

Anker’s other SOLIX C1000 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX C800 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX C300/C200 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX F2000 Labor Day Sale deals:

To check out Anker’s full SOLIX Labor Day Sale lineup, including the larger power stations and solar generator bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

woman riding Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus e-bike through farm

Rad Power’s Labor Day Sale takes up to $600 off three legacy e-bikes starting from $999 + 25% accessory discounts

Rad Power has launched its Labor Day Sale promotions through September 3 with up to $600 taken off a selection of e-bikes alongside up to 25% discounts on accessories (applied in cart). Alongside the ongoing $999 low on the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike that now sports a “last chance” mention, Rad has added one of my favorite models to the deals lineup, the RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat-Tire e-bike at $1,299 shipped. We last saw this model come off its $1,599 price tag back in June for the brand’s Father’s Day sale with a $200 discount, with today’s deal being the first we’ve seen its $1,299 pricing show up in 2025, which has mostly kept costs at $1,399 or higher, except the brief fall to the $1,199 low at the top of the year. Aside from that low price in January, you’re otherwise looking at the best deal of this year, saving you $300 off the going rate. Head below for more on this and the other models seeing discounts.

If you want to learn more about this model or the other models seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Man standing next to Luckeep X1 Lite folding e-bike atop mountain

Affordable get up to 60 miles of commuting support on Luckeep’s X1 Lite folding all-terrain e-bike at a $466

AliExpress is offering a great deal for commuters shopping for e-bikes on a budget, with the Luckeep X1 Lite Folding Electric Bike currently available for $465.77 shipped, after using the code USAFF100 at checkout for an additional $100 off, which beats out Amazon by $84 and the brand’s direct website pricing by $283. This model normally fetches $1,149 at full price from the brand, and is now seeing a giant $683 price drop for one of the lowest prices we have ever tracked and delivering a much more affordable means to commute to your daily appointments.

If you want to learn more about this budget-friendly model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this massive discount here.

Jackery power stations sit atop box with flag in background for Labor Day sale

Jackery’s Labor Day Sale offers up to 50% off on power stations and more with bonus 5% and 7% savings starting from $89

Jackery has launched its Labor Day Sale through August 28 with up to 50% discounts on its lineup of power stations, as well as bonus 5% and 7% savings on orders over $1,300. Among the offers this holiday season, we spotted Jackery’s legacy Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with an expansion battery and two 100W solar panels for $1,519.05 shipped, after using the code EMAIL5 at checkout for an extra 5% off your cart’s total. This bundle would normally cost you $2,099 in full, with discounts having usually being on the station and solar panels for $1,299. The addition of the extra battery would cost you $459 right now, meaning you’d normally be spending $1,758 for this same setup. You’re looking at a combined 28% markdown here that cuts $580 off the tag for the best price we can find. Head below to get the full lineup of deals we’re seeing during this sale.

If you want to learn more about this solar bundle, or browse the full extent of Jackery’s Labor Day lineup, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

woman cutting branch with greenworks 60V 16-inch cordless chainsaw

Clear storm debris with Greenworks’ 60V 16-inch cordless chainsaw kit at $190 annual low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 60V 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw with a 2.5Ah battery at $189.99 shipped, which beats out the brand’s direct website pricing by $50. While it normally carries a $300 MSRP, we’ve been seeing it recently keep down at $240 at Amazon, with discounts having only gone as low as $200 this year. You’re looking at the best price of the year so far on this model, which has shed $50 off the going rate ($110 off the MSRP) and lands as the second-lowest overall price we have tracked – $40 above the low we last saw during Christmas sales.

If you want to learn more about this chainsaw’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

woman handing man drink from goal zero alta 50 portable electric cooler

Save 30% on Goal Zero’s Alta 50 single-zone and Alta 80 dual-zone electric coolers starting from $560

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Goal Zero is offering its Alta 50 Portable Electric Fridge and Freezer for $559.89 shipped, with its larger Alta 80 variant also seeing an equally significant discount (more on that below the fold). This smaller unit normally goes for $800 at full price, which we’ve mostly seen discounts this year drop between $640 and $560, though there was one fall to $559, not to mention the falls to $550 and the $522 low back in 2024. You’re looking at the second-best price of 2025, though, with the 30% markdown here cutting $240 off the going rate, landing it at the fourth-lowest price overall that sits $38 above the one-time all-time low from Black Friday.

If you want to learn more about this cooler or its larger variant, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to $200K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

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August 22, 2025

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US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to 0K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to 0K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

Crypto inclusion in 401(k) plans may be more significant for Bitcoin than the 2024 launch of US spot Bitcoin ETFs, according to Bitwise’s European head of research.

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Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

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August 22, 2025

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Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

The forecast, which was published on Thursday, came amid renewed interest in stablecoins from several governments around the world.

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