The high-profile hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump is currently underway in New York City. The trial centers around allegations that Trump falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. The payment was intended to prevent Daniels from going public with her story of an alleged affair with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Last week, 12 jurors were selected to decide Trump’s fate in this trial. The prosecution claims that Trump authorized the payment to Daniels in order to protect his campaign, while Trump denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty.
The trial kicked off with opening statements, with Trump’s defense lawyer addressing the jurors by emphasizing that Trump is not only a former president but also a husband, father, and person like everyone else. The prosecution, on the other hand, alleged that Trump orchestrated a criminal conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 election and covered it up by falsifying business records.
Throughout the trial, jurors will hear testimony from key witnesses, including David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirer’s parent company, who is expected to shed light on the “catch-and-kill” strategy used to suppress scandalous stories about Trump.
The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks, and if convicted on all counts, Trump could face a lengthy prison sentence. However, legal experts suggest that a more likely outcome would be probation or a few years in prison, allowing Trump to continue his political activities while his appeal is pending.
The trial is not being televised or live-streamed, as per New York court rules, but updates on the proceedings can be followed through live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courthouse.