Donald Trump’s criminal trial in his hush-money case will begin in earnest on Monday marking an historic moment in US history.
Trump is the first US president to face a criminal trial, which comes just months before the 2024 election – in which the property mogul looks set to be the GOP nominee to take on the incumbent Joe Biden.
A 12-person jury in Manhattan is set to hear opening statements from prosecutors and defence lawyers in the first of four criminal cases against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to reach trial.
Attorneys will also introduce a colourful cast of characters who are expected to testify about the made-for-media saga, including a porn actor who claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump and the lawyer who prosecutors say paid her to keep quiet about it.
Jurors will consider whether Trump’s alleged efforts to conceal damaging information about extramarital sex, to protect his successful bid for the White House in 2016, were illicit.
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and could face four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear if the judge would seek to put him behind bars.
A conviction would not preclude the former President from becoming commander-in-chief again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to attempt to pardon himself if found guilty.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in this and all other cases against him.
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