Lara Trump Says Donald Trump's 34 Felony Charges a 'Bookkeeping Error'

Donald Trump's daughter-in-law says that the alleged actions that led to his hush money trial are a "bookkeeping error."

The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to so-called hush money he arranged for his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair she had with the former president a secret ahead of the 2016 election.

The money was listed in the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee's company records as "legal fees," which prosecutors suggest was part of an unlawful attempt to influence the outcome of the 2016 race. Trump admitted to reimbursing the $130,000 to Cohen, but denies all wrongdoing, saying that the trial is part of a political witch hunt aimed at derailing his White House bid.

Lara Trump, who is married to the former president's son, Eric Trump, lashed out at the charges leveled against her father-in-law during an appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News show on Wednesday.

The Republican National Committee co-chair said that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "refused to prosecute this case until...Donald Trump decided he was running for president."

"Everyone can see what this is about," she said. "They have, and are forcing, Donald Trump to sit in a courtroom—this is a former president of the United States, the current nominee for the Republican side of the aisle for president—for weeks on end. For what, Sean? They claim a bookkeeping error. Really?"

Newsweek reached out to a representative of Donald Trump via email for comment.

During an appearance on Fox News' Fox & Friends on Tuesday, Lara Trump said that her father-in-law had raised over $1 million on Monday, the first day of his Manhattan criminal trial.

"The people of America spoke up yesterday in support of Donald Trump to the tune of a million and a half dollars raised for his campaign," she said. "The average donation was $28, so even here, in the abysmal Biden economy, people are coming out and they are financially supporting this president."

Eric Trump made similar comments last week about his father raising money while appearing in court.

"Every single time he walks into that courtroom, millions and millions of dollars flow in because the American people know exactly what's happening to him," he said on Fox & Friends.

Jury selection for Donald Trump's trial began in New York on Monday. The selection process is expected to last several days.

The former president has continued to deny any wrongdoing and was previously placed under a gag order after criticizing the daughter of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case.

Judge Merchan announced that the court will hear arguments for a potential gag order violation by Trump on April 23. The prosecution introduced a motion to sanction him for social media posts that they argue violate his gag order. The prosecution requested Trump be fined $1,000 for each of three potential violations.