Follow our live coverage on Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan.
On Monday morning, a Manhattan jury will hear opening statements in People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, the first criminal prosecution of a former US president.
This is the next phase of a criminal trial that will play out like any other – even though it features a defendant like no other.
The trial began last week, when Judge Juan M. Merchan led the selection of 12 jurors and six alternates sworn to be fair and impartial to the former president as they considered allegations that he falsified records to cover up a $130,000 hush payment. porn star. Prosecutors said Trump allowed porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her story about a sexual encounter with him.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg argued that the deal was part of a larger plan to suppress negative stories about Mr. Trump before the 2016 election. He charged him with 34 crimes falsifying business records.
Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty and denied having sex with Ms. Daniels.
Opening statements will be the jury’s first opportunity to hear the case clearly laid out before them.
Testimony will likely take up most of Monday’s trial, after which both sides will begin calling witnesses. The prosecution will question them about their recall of key events and use their statements to present other evidence in the form of documents.
The defense will then have the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses to discredit their testimony.
The first prosecution witness is likely to be David Pecker, the former editor of The National Enquirer, a tabloid with close ties to Mr. Trump and which helped him bury damaging stories during the campaign. in 2016. Mr. Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, and his former spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, are also likely to testify. So did Ms. Daniels.
Prosecutors cannot force Mr. Trump to testify.
But once the prosecution rested its case and the defense began, Mr. Trump spoke he was interested in stand-up.
After both sides have rested, the attorneys will present closing arguments that essentially summarize the best points of both sides.
The jury will then determine whether Mr. Trump committed these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof in the US legal system.
Members will retreat behind closed doors to deliberate and debate each charge. Their verdict will decide whether Mr. Trump is guilty or not guilty of each crime.
Their decisions must be unanimous, and if they cannot reach a verdict after days of deliberation, the judge can declare a mistrial. If they convict on even one count, Judge Mercan will sentence Mr. Trump at a later date.
If convicted, Mr. Trump could face probation or up to four years in prison.
