The trial will begin with the selection of 12 jurors, which is likely to be a long and contentious process. (document)
Donald Trump on Monday became the first former U.S. president to face a criminal trial, pushing America’s legal and electoral systems to their limits, less than seven months before Americans decide whether to return the scandal-plagued Republican to the White House.
Trump has been accused of falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up a sexual encounter with porn star Stormy Daniels that would cost him the 2016 election.
The alleged hush-money incident is just one of four criminal cases facing Trump, and is arguably the least serious.
But the very real prospect of Trump becoming a convicted felon and potentially facing jail time throws up a shocking twist in an already unprecedented election in which the right-wing populist is Campaigning on Democratic President Joe Biden’s dark vows of “revenge”. , who defeated him in 2020.
The trial will begin with the selection of 12 jurors, which is likely to be a long and contentious process.
Judge Juan Merchan will convene more than 100 private citizens who will have to answer a questionnaire that will include checking whether they are members of far-right groups, such as those who led a group of Trump supporters on January 6, 2021 Proud Boys, a popular supporter. Attacked the Capitol to stop the certification of Biden’s election.
However, the actual allegations revolve around the substance of financial law.
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 denies the charges and is likely to use the expected two-month trial as a key platform to denounce what he calls “legal” and political interference in the election by his opponents. Trump also claimed he would not get a fair trial in Democratic-dominated New York.
Yet the real estate mogul and longtime reality TV star has used the spotlight as an unlikely campaign boost — casting himself as a victim and tapping into the anger of his supporters to raise money.
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.
– ‘Very high’ stakes –
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 family members of the judge and the lead prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Trump expanded the scope of the order after slamming Merchant and his daughter in a series of posts on The Truth Society.
“The stakes are very high because so far Trump and his lawyers have successfully settled federal filings and election interference cases,” said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. “The hush money case could be The only case to be heard before the November federal election.”
In New York, where Trump has spent decades as an entrepreneur, celebrity playboy, politician and now criminal defendant, there is little sympathy.
“I don’t know if he’s going to get a fair trial, but whatever happened … he did it to himself,” said Alberto Vasquez, 45, a city resident.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
