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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

The Facts on Manhattan Crime

The Facts on Manhattan Crime

The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a “field hearing” in Manhattan on April 17 to draw attention to “how Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime.” Experts told us it was unlikely Bragg had or could have an impact on crime trends, and crime data for Manhattan don’t match the GOP narrative.

Posts Distort Possible Sentencing for Trump in Manhattan Indictment

Posts Distort Possible Sentencing for Trump in Manhattan Indictment

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4 to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to conceal alleged hush money payments. Social media posts misleadingly claim Trump is “facing up to 30+ years” in prison if convicted. But legal experts said it is unlikely Trump would serve any time in prison.

Biden’s 2022 Remarks Not Related to Trump Indictment, Contrary to Online Posts

Biden’s 2022 Remarks Not Related to Trump Indictment, Contrary to Online Posts

Social media posts and former President Donald Trump are sharing an edited video of President Joe Biden to make the unfounded claim that Biden “is coordinating these Trump indictments.” Biden’s comments, made in 2022, were related to international concerns about American democracy, not Trump’s legal battles.

Early Release of ‘QAnon Shaman’ Due to Plea and Prison Protocols, Contrary to Online Claims

Early Release of ‘QAnon Shaman’ Due to Plea and Prison Protocols, Contrary to Online Claims

Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” was sentenced to 41 months in prison for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, but he was released early to a halfway house on March 28 because of his plea agreement and prison protocols. Social media posts falsely claim that his release was due to videos shown by Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson.

Examining Trump’s Claims on His Arrest and Arraignment

Examining Trump’s Claims on His Arrest and Arraignment

In a speech from Mar-a-Lago hours after pleading not guilty to criminal charges in Manhattan, and in social media posts, former President Donald Trump has said the case against him is unfair. Here, we explain his attacks on the prosecutor, judge and venue.

What’s in Trump’s Indictment?

What’s in Trump’s Indictment?

The unsealed 16-page indictment against Donald Trump accuses the former president of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, but it is the accompanying 13-page “Statement of Facts” released by the Manhattan district attorney that gets to the heart of the case.

FactChecking Trump’s Rally, Fox Interview

FactChecking Trump’s Rally, Fox Interview

In his first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas, and in a recent interview, former President Donald Trump repeated many claims we’ve fact-checked before — but he also made new false and unsupported statements.

Stormy Daniels Said 2018 Letter Denying She Had Sex With Trump Is a ‘Lie’

Stormy Daniels Said 2018 Letter Denying She Had Sex With Trump Is a ‘Lie’

Porn actor Stormy Daniels maintains that she had sex with Donald Trump in 2006. Daniels said a letter she signed under pressure in 2018, claiming the affair “never happened,” was a “lie.” But some conservatives are misleadingly citing that letter as proof that Trump and Daniels were never intimate and she was not paid “hush money.”

Memes Make False Equivalence Between Clinton, Trump and Payments to Women

Memes Make False Equivalence Between Clinton, Trump and Payments to Women

Former President Bill Clinton settled a sexual harassment lawsuit with Paula Jones in a case that was a matter of public record. Former President Donald Trump made a secret payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, which may lead to criminal charges against him. Social media posts falsely claim the situations are similar and Trump is being treated differently by prosecutors.