Former President Donald Trump is facing 34 felony charges relating to hush money payments in New York. Despite this, he has turned his legal troubles into a boost for his presidential campaign, arguing that he is the victim of a criminal justice system that is being weaponized against him. Trump, who is set to be the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has characterized the trial as an assault on the nation and a form of election interference. He has expressed pride in participating in the proceedings and intends to be involved at every level of the trial.
The trial began with jury selection, where about 500 New Yorkers arrived for the process. This phase will take days, potentially weeks, as jurors must be selected who are unbiased and fair. Some potential jurors were excused for stating they could not be impartial, leading to a remaining pool of about 34 for voir dire. Trump, seated at the defense table, closely followed the process. The case centers around allegations that Trump instructed his former attorney to make hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign as part of a scheme to suppress negative stories.
Trump has vehemently denied the charges, portraying himself as the victim of salacious attacks by witnesses. The trial is seen as a way for Trump to go after his perceived enemies and detractors. The risk of jail time looms as Trump must be present for the trial, with prosecutors seeking fines for violations of a gag order. Trump’s campaign has criticized the trial as an attack on a political opponent, warning that his absence could result in an arrest warrant. The trial is likely to last for weeks, complicating Trump’s efforts to campaign in key states for the upcoming presidential election.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Trump’s lawyers argued should not be admissible, including excerpts from Trump’s previous statements and campaign rally remarks. The judge ruled that certain evidence could not be played to the jury but could be discussed. There was debate over introducing evidence related to Trump’s alleged coordination with the National Enquirer to suppress damaging stories and allegations of sexual assault. The defense was given a deadline to enter final exhibits into evidence, with the judge ruling that some claims were hearsay and inadmissible.
Moving forward, the court will hold a hearing next week to determine if Trump violated a gag order by posting social media comments about the case’s witnesses. Trump has expressed willingness to testify in the trial, and the court will conduct a hearing to consider the implications of his testimony. Trump’s legal team has requested delays in other cases to accommodate the New York trial, showcasing how it has become a focus for stalling legal proceedings against him. Throughout the trial, Trump has used his legal troubles to bolster his campaign, sending out fundraising messages emphasizing his refusal to surrender and rallying his supporters in the face of what he perceives as unjust persecution.
