Former President Donald Trump is facing his first criminal trial, accused of falsifying his company’s records to conceal hush money payments. This trial marks a historic moment as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of Trump’s four indictments to go to trial.
The allegations center around hush money payments made to suppress stories about Trump’s marital infidelity claims during his 2016 presidential campaign. These payments, including $30,000 to a doorman, $150,000 to a former Playboy model, and $130,000 to a porn actor, were disguised as legal fees in Trump’s company records.
Prosecutors argue that these payments amounted to illegal campaign contributions and violated election laws. The National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., entered into a nonprosecution agreement for its cooperation in the case.
The trial also sheds light on the practice of “catch-and-kill,” where tabloids buy damaging information to prevent its publication. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he suppressed stories about celebrities and politicians, including Trump, to further his business interests.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors allege that Trump’s actions were part of a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election.
The trial has also seen Trump facing a gag order, restricting him from making public statements about potential witnesses and prosecutors. Despite facing fines for violating the order, Trump’s lawyers argue that he needs leeway to respond to criticism amid media coverage of his case and his candidacy.