Donald Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. The 2024 Republican presumptive presidential nominee faces the threat of prison if he is convicted. The New York case alleges Trump falsified the financial transaction behind the $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Here’s what you need to know about the case and what’s happening today:
16 April at a glance: what to expect
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Trump’s motorcade arrived at court shortly after 9am, but before arriving at the New York courthouse, Trump fired off a few Truth Social posts. In one post, Trump wrote: “MY TRIAL IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA.”
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Monday ended without any jurors being seated. The selection process is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, and is expected to take several days. More than 500 potential jurors have been summoned to the Manhattan courthouse.
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Each potential juror is expected to read their responses to a 42-point questionnaire while Judge Juan Merchan informs them of the individuals who are expected to appear in the trial, including potential witnesses.
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More than half of prospects in the first panel of 96 were excused after saying they could not be fair and impartial – about 50, per the pool report.
Trump hush-money trial status: Trump pleaded not guilty; trial began 15 April 2024.
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Charges: 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.
Hush-money case summary: The case involves a hush-money scheme during the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to quash her story about having an extramarital affair with the former president. Trump has denied the affair took place. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally reimbursing Cohen for the hush-money payment by falsely classifying the transaction, executed by the Trump Organization, as legal expenses.
Verdict before election? Likely
What has happened in the case so far
Source
mypresscity
