Opening statements are scheduled to commence in the morning for former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. Prosecutors are expected to present their case to jurors, alleging that Trump falsified business records to cover up a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. In response, defense attorneys plan to argue that the evidence against Trump is weak and based on testimony from an unreliable witness.
This trial has been nearly eight years in the making, tracing back to the final days before the 2016 election when Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter. Prosecutors claim that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payment through monthly installments disguised as legal fees, in an effort to conceal the nature of the transaction. Last year, Trump was indicted on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records.
Despite pleading not guilty, Trump continues to deny the alleged sexual encounter and has dismissed the case as a “witch hunt” and “election interference.” As jury selection unfolded last week, Trump publicly criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other key figures in the case. Inside the courtroom, however, Trump remained reserved, speaking sparingly and occasionally appearing disengaged during the lengthy jury selection process, which ultimately resulted in a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates.
The group of jurors selected for this case marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president is being judged in a criminal trial. Following the opening statements, prosecutors are poised to call their first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Pecker is expected to testify about a scheme involving himself, Cohen, and Trump, in which negative stories about Trump were purchased and suppressed by the publication, while unfavorable stories about Trump’s opponents were published.
The trial is poised to shed light on the intricate details of the alleged hush money payments and the efforts to conceal them. With both sides preparing to present their arguments, the outcome of this trial holds significant implications for the former president and may shape the narrative surrounding his tenure in office and beyond. As the proceedings unfold, the eyes of the nation are fixed on the courtroom in New York, awaiting the verdict that will undoubtedly reverberate across the political landscape.