“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” the former president said.
New York:
Donald Trump was inaugurated in a New York court on Monday, becoming the first former president in U.S. history to face a criminal trial, a shocking moment for the already explosive 2024 presidential race.
The Republican took a defiant stance, telling a crowd of reporters outside a Manhattan courthouse that his trial was an “outrage” and an “attack on America.”
Then he strode into the courtroom, past nine rows of wooden benches, his expression solemn, followed by his legal team.
The scandal-plagued 77-year-old is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels to protect his 2016 campaign from last-minute of turmoil.
The alleged hush-money matter is just one of four criminal cases facing Trump, including a historic indictment against the Republican for allegedly trying to subvert the 2020 election and prevent winner Joe Biden from taking office.
If convicted in the hush-money case, Trump could face years in prison, but legal observers believe that is unlikely.
Even so, the prospect of Trump becoming a convicted felon brings unprecedented uncertainty to the already unpredictable Nov. 5 election, in which he hopes to defeat Biden and return to power.
The far-right populist harbored dark vows of “revenge” and sought to use his criminal case as evidence of persecution.
On Monday, his campaign released a video showing Trump as president and warning his supporters that “they want to take my freedom away because I will never let them take your freedom away.”
In keeping with his trademark bravado, Trump said last week he would testify at the trial, a highly unusual and often risky move for a defendant.
– Lawyer and porn star –
The trial begins with jury selection and can take multiple days. A group of ordinary citizens convened by Judge Juan Merchant must answer a questionnaire that, among other things, checks whether they are members of far-right groups.
The actual charges revolve around highly technical financial laws.
Trump is accused of illegally concealing money transfers to his longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who used the funds to pay Stormy Daniels to speak out against the 2016 campaign The alleged sexual encounters remained silent in the final weeks.
A New York grand jury indicted Trump in March 2023 over payments to Daniels (whose real name is Stephanie Clifford). The former president was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records.
He has denied the accusations and said the encounter with Clifford and another nude Playboy model, whose story he also allegedly covered up, did not happen.
Trump also claimed he would not get a fair trial in Democratic-dominated New York.
Even if he is convicted, he can appeal and will not be barred from continuing to run or even be elected president on November 5.
– Four criminal cases –
Trump’s three other criminal cases – centered on his alleged hoarding of top-secret documents in Florida after leaving the White House and involvement in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election – have faced multiple delays.
Trump has repeatedly failed to secure meaningful delays in the New York case, while Merseyside has said he is determined to proceed with the trial.
Last week, a judge extended an existing gag order that prevents Trump from attacking people involved in the trial and expanded it to include the judge and the family of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the lead prosecutor.
Trump expanded the scope of the order after slamming Merchant and his daughter in a series of posts on The Truth Society.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
