The unprecedented trial concerning hush money allegations against former President Donald Trump has officially kicked off. This trial marks the first instance of a past American leader being put on trial, raising the stakes for Trump as he potentially faces a daunting legal battle amidst the ongoing race for the White House.
The trial has made notable progress with the successful selection of a 12-person jury, a crucial step in getting the proceedings underway. This diverse jury consists of individuals from various professions, including software engineers, English teachers, investment bankers, and retired wealth managers.
The legal predicament of Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is expected to be a significant factor in the upcoming Presidential race against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. The trial, slated to last several weeks, is likely to bring to the fore unflattering details about Trump’s personal life prior to his presidency.
The crux of the trial revolves around allegations that Trump manipulated internal records of his company to conceal hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. This payment, amounting to $130,000, was allegedly made by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, shortly before the 2016 election to prevent Daniels’ claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from going public during the critical final days of the campaign.
The prosecution argues that the nature of these payments was intentionally misrepresented in Trump’s business records when his company reimbursed Cohen. Trump’s defense, on the other hand, asserts that these payments constituted legitimate legal expenses.
If convicted, Trump faces the possibility of a four-year prison sentence for the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. However, it remains uncertain whether the presiding judge would decide to incarcerate the former President. Any conviction would likely be appealed by Trump.
Despite the swift progress made in selecting the jury, the trial has not been without its share of challenges. Two dismissals took place on the first day, raising questions about the integrity and transparency of the jury selection process.
The first dismissal involved a potential juror expressing doubts about her ability to remain impartial after details about her identity were disclosed. The second dismissal arose from concerns over the accuracy of a juror’s responses during the selection process.
As the trial continues, it is expected that Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018, will be a prominent witness for the prosecution.