Former President Donald Trump is set to stand trial on criminal charges starting on Monday, making him the first former president to face such charges. The case involves alleged falsification of business records in a scheme to cover up allegations of marital infidelity that arose during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, which carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison. The case has significant political implications as it could potentially be resolved before the November election, where Trump is seeking re-election.
The charges against Trump stem from claims that he paid hush money to porn actor Stormy Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a Trump Tower doorman to cover up alleged affairs. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged these payoffs, and the payments were falsely recorded in Trump Organization records as legal expenses. Trump denies that any of the sexual encounters took place and has defended himself against the charges. Prosecutors allege that Trump was attempting to conceal violations of federal campaign finance laws through these payments, which could result in additional legal consequences.
The trial will involve jury selection, with Judge Juan M. Merchan overseeing the process to select 12 jurors and six alternates who can be fair and impartial. Potential jurors will be asked various questions to determine if they have any biases or conflicts of interest that would prevent them from serving. Notably, the judge has ordered that potential jurors’ names remain confidential to preserve the integrity of the selection process. The trial is expected to be closely watched, given its high-profile nature and implications for Trump’s political future.
Key witnesses in the trial are expected to include Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, who were directly involved in the payoffs and allegations. Cohen, who has turned against Trump, has already testified before the grand jury that brought the indictment and is likely to play a central role in the prosecution’s case. Trump’s defense team is likely to challenge the credibility of these witnesses, arguing that they are unreliable and motivated by personal vendettas against the former president. Trump has maintained his innocence and criticized the case as a politically motivated attack on his campaign.
In addition to this hush money case, Trump is facing three other criminal cases, which have been delayed by legal proceedings and appeals. These cases involve allegations of election interference, illegal retention of classified documents, and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election loss in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of these cases and maintains his innocence. The outcome of the trial and the other legal challenges facing Trump will have significant implications for his political future and whether he will be able to run for office again in the future. The trial will be closely watched by both supporters and detractors of the former president.
