The criminal New York hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump is set to begin, more than a year after he was indicted in the case. The trial will kick off with jury selection and is expected to feature high-profile witnesses from Trump’s inner circle during the 2016 election. The former president is accused of participating in an illegal conspiracy to impact the election integrity and suppress negative information, including a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied the affair, and he is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Stormy Daniels received a $130,000 payment just days before the 2016 election to keep her alleged one-night stand with Trump in 2006 private. Despite attempts by Trump’s attorneys to prevent Daniels from testifying based on a documentary where she discussed the payment, she remains a key witness in the trial. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, is another important witness who has stated that Trump directed him to make the payment to Daniels. Despite efforts to bar Cohen from testifying due to concerns about his credibility, those requests have been denied, and Cohen is set to provide testimony.
David Pecker, the former chairman of American Media Inc., played a role in “catch and kill” schemes on behalf of Trump, including brokering the deal with Stormy Daniels. Pecker has been granted immunity for his testimony, and AMI signed a non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors. Additionally, Hope Hicks, who was Trump’s campaign press secretary, contacted Cohen in an attempt to suppress allegations about Trump from becoming public following the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Cohen acted as a mediator in several conversations that day, involving Trump, Hicks, Pecker, and others.
The investigation into Trump’s involvement in the hush money payment was led by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, who inherited the case from his predecessor. Trump has criticized Bragg and accused the investigation of being politically motivated. New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan will preside over the trial, having previously been involved in cases related to Trump and his associates. Despite Trump’s attempts to have the judge removed and stop the trial, Merchan has rejected those motions. He has also imposed a gag order on Trump, preventing him from making statements about court staff, prosecutors, or their family members.
The trial is expected to shed light on the illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election and suppress negative information about Trump, including the hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Key witnesses such as Michael Cohen and David Pecker are set to provide crucial testimony about their involvement in the payment and other related schemes. Judge Juan Merchan, known for maintaining control in his courtroom, will preside over the case, despite attempts by Trump to prevent him from doing so. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Trump and his legal troubles.
