Historic Trump hush money trial begins with jury selection

Jury selection for former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial begins Monday, April 15, in New York, marking the start of the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president. The trial centers on allegations that, just days before the 2016 presidential election, Trump falsified business records to conceal reimbursements for $130,000 in hush money payments that could potentially affect the election’s outcome.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, claiming the trial is a witch hunt.

Prosecutors claim that Trump approved reimbursements for his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who arranged the payment details with Allen Weisselberg, the ex-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.

They allege the organization paid Cohen $420,000, covering the payment, some political work, taxes and a bonus, falsely noting in their records and on the checks that these were legal expenses under a retainer agreement.

“Well, you know, jury selection is largely luck. It depends who you get,” Trump said on Friday, April 12. “It’s very unfair that I’m having a trial there. It’s very unfair that we have this judge who hates Trump, and has tremendous conflict, as, you know, tremendous conflict.”

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. If found guilty, he could face a maximum of four years for each count. Jury selection is set for today and is expected to last at least a week.

“The ultimate issue is whether the prospective jurors can assure us that they will set aside any personal feelings or biases and render a decision that is based on the evidence and the law,” Judge Juan M. Merchan wrote in an April 8 filing.

Trump's history-making hush money trial starts Monday with jury selection https://t.co/k7Xoh6P6Md

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 15, 2024

The former president is facing three additional criminal trials in federal court and in Georgia, addressing serious charges including election interference, conspiracy, and mishandling classified documents after leaving office.