Prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush-money trial have accused the former president of 'pure election fraud' over a cover-up to hide a sex scandal ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan

The 2024 United States presidential election, expected to be between Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place this November. 

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Former President Donald Trump's criminal trial has begun in New York, marking a significant event as this is the first-ever criminal trial against a former U.S. President. The trial proceedings commenced with the prosecution and defense teams delivering their opening statements. The controversy surrounds Trump's alleged falsification of business records, purportedly to conceal a $130,000 payment intended to prevent adult film star Stormy Daniels from publicizing her claims about an affair during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's legal team contends that the payments were legitimate legal expenses, framed as retainer fees to one of Trump's attorneys.

The trial features a jury comprising twelve members and six alternates, notable for including two lawyers, a choice some legal analysts consider unusual due to concerns that a lawyer juror could disproportionately influence the jury's deliberations. Among those called to testify is David Pecker, former head of American Media Incorporated and ex-publisher of the National Enquirer. Pecker's testimony is expected to reveal details about the tabloid's efforts to sway the 2016 election outcome, including payments made to former playmate Karen McDougal to suppress her story of an alleged affair with Trump. Other prominent figures such as Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, and possibly Donald Trump himself are also anticipated to take the stand as the trial progresses.



Trump accused of 'pure election fraud' as trial gets underway

History is being made in this Manhattan court today as lawyers begin their opening statements in the first ever criminal trial against a former U.S. President. This is a witch hunt and it's a shame and it comes out of Washington. Former President Donald Trump returning to a New York City courtroom on Monday as opening statements take place in his hush money trial. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to buy the silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. His attorneys argue the payments were legitimate legal expenses. This is a business records case. Those business records accurately reflected payments to one of President Trump's lawyers as legal retainer fees. Twelve jurors and six alternates are hearing the case. The panel includes two lawyers, which some legal experts say is an unconventional move. You don't want to seat a lawyer on the jury and that is because ultimately they become a super juror and they would dominate because everyone looks to them for decisions and help them think through the law and the facts. The first witness in the trial is David Pecker, the former head of American Media Incorporated, the publisher of the National Enquirer. He's expected to outline the scheme by the tabloid to influence the 2016 election by paying former playmate Karen McDougal to keep the story of her alleged affair with Trump under wraps. The court is also expecting to hear from Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels and potentially from former President Trump himself. In New York, Connor Hanson, Fox 32 Chicago.

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Odesa

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