Donald Trump’s first-ever criminal trial commenced on Monday for hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The Manhattan District Attorney’s prosecutors allege that Trump illegally influenced the election by concealing the payment. Trump’s defense claims there was nothing wrong with trying to influence the election.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appeared skeptical of the Department of Justice’s strategy in charging hundreds of defendants involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The justices questioned whether Section 1552(c) of the Constitution, used to charge the defendants, was being overreached. This could potentially weaken the case against Trump, who faces election interference charges under the same statute.
Separately, a federal judge has ruled that civil lawsuits against Trump related to his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection can proceed, regardless of the status of his criminal cases. These lawsuits, filed by police officers and Democratic lawmakers, aim to hold Trump accountable for his actions that day. Trump has attempted to pause these cases, arguing they would jeopardize his defense in the criminal trial. However, the judge rejected his request, stating that the factual overlap between the cases is not significant enough to warrant a pause.
