For the first time in history, former President Donald Trump stands trial for alleged hush money payments aimed at suppressing damaging personal stories.
A Manhattan jury will hear opening statements in this criminal case, offering insights into the allegations and Trump’s anticipated defense. The trial, expected to include testimonies from an adult film actress claiming an encounter with Trump, will unfold amid his campaign for the presidency.
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, potentially leading to a four-year prison sentence. A conviction would not bar him from running for office again but would prevent self-pardoning.
The trial marks a convergence of Trump’s celebrity past and political ambitions. Prosecutors allege that he concealed illicit payments made to the actress through his company’s reimbursement of his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges, is expected to testify for the prosecution.
Trump’s lawyers maintain that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses. However, prosecutors must prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a crime, not solely to enter falsified records.
This trial is particularly significant as it may be the only one of four cases against Trump to reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal disputes have delayed the other three cases.
