More than one year after prosecutors pressed charges in Manhattan against former President Donald Trump, they are presenting their evidence to a jury. Opening statements have begun in the first-ever trial of a former president as Trump faces 34 felony counts for falsifying business records.

Manhattan

Opening Statements Begin in Trump Hush Money Trial

More than a year after prosecutors brought charges in Manhattan against former President Donald Trump, the trial has commenced, marking a historic moment as it is the first-ever trial of a former president of the United States. Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The charges against Trump stem from accusations that he illegally manipulated records to conceal sex scandals, with the intention of influencing the 2016 election outcome. As the trial unfolds, District Attorney Alvin Bragg is expected to present a comprehensive collection of evidence, including testimonies from former allies of Trump, to support the prosecution's case.

Despite contesting the charges, Trump has expressed his frustration with the proceedings, particularly criticizing a gag order that restricts what he can publicly say about the case. The gag order's fairness is slated to be evaluated in a forthcoming hearing, after Trump allegedly intensified his rhetoric against expected witnesses and the trial's judge. 

The trial has already seen its share of dramatic moments, including Trump enduring criticism from potential jurors and a judge's efforts to shield jurors' identities for their protection. Outside the courtroom, the atmosphere has remained relatively calm, though a disturbing incident occurred when an individual fatally set themselves on fire, displaying a politically charged message.

Public opinion on the trial appears divided, with recent polling indicating that a minority of U.S. adults believe Trump committed illegal acts related to the hush money allegations. However, it is the jury, drawn predominantly from a Democratic-leaning Manhattan populace, who will determine the outcome of this significant trial.



Opening statements begin in Trump hush money trial

In the coming weeks, former President Trump will continue making the short trip from Luxury's Trump Tower to the dingy, at times chilly, confines of Manhattan Criminal Court in the first prosecution of an American President. With the jury now seated, it's time for the substance of the trial. District Attorney Alvin Bragg will use a trove of evidence, including testimony from former Trump allies, to argue Trump illegally falsified records to hide sex scandals to interfere with the 2016 election. These are felony crimes in New York State, no matter who you are. The former president, who's pleaded not guilty, has complained the trial is taking him away from the campaign trail. He's also frustrated with the mandate that limits what he can say. The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me, and I have a gag order, just to show you how much more unfair it is. On Tuesday, a hearing will be held to consider arguments that Trump violated that gag order after he stepped up attacks on expected witnesses and targeted the judge's daughter over her work with a Democratic consulting firm. The proceedings in court have already provided noteworthy moments. Last week, Trump had to sit in silence while prospective jurors railed against him, a striking scene for a man who typically operates on his own schedule. The judge also taking steps to protect jurors, who will be under heavy scrutiny. He's instructed the media not to share details about their occupations after a juror voiced concern about parts of her identity being revealed and was dismissed. Outside the courthouse, it's been mostly calm, with the exception of a graphic demonstration on Friday. A man died after lighting himself on fire. He had held a sign that read, quote, Trump is with Biden, and they're about to fascist coup us. As for the public's view of this historic trial, a recent AP North poll found just one third of U.S. adults believe Trump did something illegal in the hush money case. But it will only be people in mostly Democratic Manhattan, in a city where Trump was born and rose to prominence, that will decide his fate in what could be the only one of his four criminal cases to have a verdict before the election.

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