Trump’s historic legal battle over alleged hush money scheme begins on Monday
Former US President Donald Trump is set to go on trial for alleged payments of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election
Former president Donald Trump is scheduled to go on trial for alleged payments of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election on Monday, marking the first time that a former president of the United States has been subject to such criminal proceedings.
In an attempt to conceal payments to Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, who in turn paid Stormy Daniels to be silent about an alleged sexual encounter during the closing weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is charged with fabricating company documents. A state-level court in New York will host Trump’s trial on the 34 charges of fabricating company documents included in the indictment.
The start of the trial highlights the wider political ramifications, especially because Trump is campaigning on a platform of “vengeance” against Democratic President Joe Biden. The very real possibility that Trump may be found guilty of a felony brings an incredible aspect to this already historic election season.
Twelve jurors will be chosen at random from a pool of more than one hundred common people before the trial starts. In order to determine their impartiality, each prospective juror will be interrogated. This will include a check to see if they have affiliations with far-right organizations such as the Proud Boys, who organized a group of Trump supporters that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump has continuously refuted the allegations despite facing significant legal obstacles and has said he won’t have a fair trial in New York, which leans Democratic. Additionally, he has used the trial as a platform to criticize his political opponents for allegedly engaging in “lawfare” and meddling in elections.
The verdict of the trial will have a big impact on Trump since he is already facing three other criminal charges involving his purportedly illegal storage of top-secret papers in Florida and his role in efforts to rig the 2020 election. However, the hush money case could be the only one heard before the federal elections in November.
Opinions vary in New York, where Trump has been a well-known figure for many years. Some people question the trial’s impartiality, while others think that Trump is to blame for whatever occurs.
Hearings for the trial are set for weekdays, and it is anticipated to take up to two months. Legal challenges and appeals might delay the process regardless of the outcome, and sentences could take place before the November elections.
Source: AFP
