new York:

Prosecutors accused Donald Trump of engaging in “criminal conspiracy and a coverup” as opening arguments began Monday in the first criminal trial of a former US president.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo said Trump falsified business records to pay porn star Stormi Daniels $130,000 to “shut up” about a potentially politically embarrassing sexual encounter.

“This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a coverup,” Colangelo told a New York jury in a Manhattan courtroom. “He hatched a criminal plan to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.”

Trump, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, sat at the defense table, looking straight ahead as the prosecutor made his opening statement, swaying slightly back and forth in his seat.

Before the court session began, Trump denounced the case as “election interference” designed to derail his 2024 White House bid.

“It’s a very, very sad day in America,” the 77-year-old Republican presidential candidate told reporters.

“I’d rather be here than be able to preach in Pennsylvania, Georgia and many other places,” he said. “It’s a witch hunt and it’s shameful and it comes out of Washington.”

Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges and the case poses significant risks for him less than seven months before a rematch with President Joe Biden.

Prosecution witnesses are expected to include Daniels and former Trump fixer Michael Cohen.

The identities of the five women and seven men on the jury are being withheld for their own protection.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records for paying “hush money” to Daniels to ensure an account of his alleged 2006 extramarital affair before the 2006 election. turned out

The alleged crime is less significant than the allegations stemming from Trump’s attack on the 2020 election — which he lost to Republican Democrat Biden — and his hoarding of classified documents.

Analysts say Trump could face jail time in the current case, though fines or probation are more likely.

– Campaign Trail –

The trial in a murky court will likely keep Trump off the campaign trail four days a week over a period of six to eight weeks, while Biden hammers him in the White House and around the country.

But Trump has tried to use the heavy media attention to fire up his support base with regular statements outside the courtroom.

“This is going to be the beginning of perhaps the most sensational trial in American history,” former prosecutor Bennett Gershman, now a lecturer at Pace University, told AFP.

“Every day we’re going to hear testimony that’s going to hurt Mr. Trump.”

Trump has railed against the case, particularly what he calls a “grossly inappropriate” partial gag order imposed by Judge Juan Mercant to allow him to attack relatives of witnesses, prosecutors and court staff. To be prevented from using your media presence.

Security was tight on Monday after a man set himself on fire outside a courthouse in an unrelated but horrific incident.

A hearing will be held on Tuesday at which Merchan will decide whether Trump is already in contempt of court for inciting jury selection.

The Republican’s three other criminal cases have repeatedly stalled because of his successful strategy of challenging his every move.

However, Merchan has prosecuted New York fraud on a tight schedule.

Prospective jurors were questioned last week by prosecutors and defense attorneys about their media habits, political donations, education and whether they have attended pro- or anti-Trump rallies.

Several potential panelists were excused after saying they could not be impartial, before lawyers and the judge whittled the group down to 12 judges with six options.

A unanimous verdict would be required to convict Trump, who has been ordered to attend every day of the trial.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)