Donald Trump’s criminal trial begins in New York

In New York today The first trial in history begins in a criminal case against the former President of the United States. Donald Trump, who is again running for president of the Republican Party this year, is on trial. Trump himself, who maintains his innocence, arrived in court in Manhattan.

Donald Trump for illegally spending funds raised for the 2016 election campaign and falsifying documents – a total of 34 episodes in the case. We are talking about the payment of $130 thousand from election funds to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed that she had sex with Trump. Daniels threatened to come forward during the campaign. 130 thousand was, according to the prosecution, payment for her silence.

According to testimony from Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who will testify at the trial as a prosecution witness, the expenses were framed as legal fees. The investigation believes that Trump used the election fund money illegally and tried to hide it. The charges could carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years, although such a sentence is unlikely. A suspended sentence is also possible. Trump insists on his complete innocence, pointing out, among other things, that Cohen was previously convicted of lying under oath and is, according to the ex-president’s defense, an unreliable witness. Trump said he would not refuse to testify in court.

The process will begin with the selection of a jury – from more than 100 residents of Manhattan, the court must select 12 jury members and 6 alternates. Jury selection will likely take the first week of the trial or last longer. The jurors will be asked questions to ensure they are impartial.

A court in New York will consider one of four criminal cases against Donald Trump. He is being tried at the state level in New York. He also faces federal criminal charges for his involvement in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 presidential election and charges of illegal handling of classified documents. Georgia prosecutors accuse him of trying to change the state’s election results. All these trials were expected to begin before this year’s presidential elections, but they were postponed pending a decision by the country’s Supreme Court on whether the country’s former president has immunity from criminal prosecution for decisions made during his presidency. It is also unknown when the trial might begin in Georgia.

As a result, the trial in New York will most likely be the only trial of Donald Trump that will take place during the presidential campaign. Trump himself views his trial as interference in the presidential election.