united-states criminal-law
In which cases it something legal just because you did not know it is illegal?
<p>As part of general knowledge, there is a rule that a law still applies to you even if you do not know it.</p>

<p>I assumed that to be fundamental, not just a rule of thumb. At least it seems natural.</p>

<p>To my surprise, I came across an example where that is not the case:</p>

<p>After the Access Hollywood tape was published, Donald Trump and Michael Cohen discussed with David Pecker (National Inquirer) about how to pay off Stephanie Clifford ("Stormy Daniels") to keep quiet about the sexual interactions between her and Trump.</p>

<p>Michael Cohen confessed the interaction, and it is known in some detail.</p>

<p>But it seems to be a question whether Trump did something illegal here exactly because it is not clear whether he knew it was illegal.*</p>

<p>How does that fundamentally make sense?<br>
In which laws does that apply?</p>

<hr>

<p>*
<a href="https://youtu.be/nmzU_-87rMM?t=7m50s" rel="nofollow noreferrer">President Donald Trump Campaign Hush Money Scam Appears To Have Worked | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC</a></p>

<p>There is a difference between knowing the law and knowing the facts. Usually, ignorance of the law is no excuse. But for criminal offenses, ignorance of the facts is an excuse. Another way of putting it is, to be guilty, the suspect must have intended to perform the action that's illegal. Suppose I intend to hunt deer in Vermont. Without realizing it, I cross the border into NY, and I don't have a NY hunting license. I haven't committed a criminal offense because I didn't intend to hunt deer in NY. But NY might have created a civil penalty of taking a deer without a license, no intent required, so I might have to pay the civil penalty.</p>
