Historic Criminal Trial: Trump’s Hush Money Case Set to Begin Court Statements

Former President Donald Trump is set to face a historic criminal trial which is scheduled to begin soon, with 12 jurors and six alternate jurors selected last Friday. Trump is accused by New York prosecutors of 34 counts of felony involving falsifying business records in connection with alleged hush money payments to suppress negative information prior to the 2016 election.

The main focus of today’s court hearing will be the arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense in relation to the hush money case. Trump criticized the trial as “election interference” and “unfair” in a statement to reporters before entering the Manhattan courthouse.

“This is election interference, everyone knows, it is very unfair,” Trump said. He characterized the trial as a “witch hunt” orchestrated to harm his opponent under the coordination in Washington, branding the opponent as “the worst president in American history”.

This case is one of four separate criminal cases that Trump faces during his presidential re-election campaign, and potentially the only case to be heard by a jury before the 2024 election. If convicted, he could face imprisonment, making him the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial.

According to CNN, David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, is expected to be the first witness summoned by the local prosecutor’s office following the opening statements. It is alleged that he facilitated the hush money deal between Trump and adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The prosecution team, consisting of prosecutors Joshua Steinglass, Matthew Colangelo, and Susan Hoffinger, has entered the courtroom. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg also arrived and is seated behind his team.

Prosecutors must establish that Trump falsified business records with the intent to commit or conceal another crime. Trump’s legal team, led by Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and Susan Necheles, is comprised of experienced attorneys, including former federal prosecutors and a seasoned criminal defense lawyer with substantial trial experience in New York.

According to CNN, external lawyers closely monitoring the case suggest that Trump’s team may argue the legality of the hush money payments and emphasize the distinction between repayment plans handled by the former president and his trusted staff. They may also argue that the money was paid to avoid embarrassment for Trump’s family rather than to impact the election.

Trump may also defend himself as he has testified in two recent civil trials.