Former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial is now underway in Manhattan, with the first day of jury selection concluding on Monday. The trial centers around 34 counts of fraud related to hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump, 77, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing that they are not criminal.
The trial is expected to last eight weeks and could potentially take Trump off the campaign trail as he seeks the Republican nomination for the 2024 election. Trump has vowed to attend court during the trial, but he is seeking to skip a day for his son’s high school graduation, which the judge will decide closer to the date.
The trial will be closely watched as it marks the first criminal trial of a former US president. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who has overseen high-profile cases in the past, will preside over the trial. Trump has hired a team of lawyers to represent him, while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has assembled a team of seasoned litigators for the prosecution.
Jury selection is expected to be a lengthy process, as finding impartial jurors in a case involving a well-known figure like Trump can be challenging. The trial will not be televised, as New York bans nearly all audio and visual coverage during trials, leaving the public to rely on media reports and sketch art for updates on the proceedings.