image source, EPA
The trial of former US President Donald Trump in a criminal case began in New York yesterday, Monday, making him the first president in the history of the United States to appear before a criminal court during which he faces charges related to paying money to a pornographic film actress to buy her silence and not disclosing his relationship with her.
At the conclusion of his first trial session, Trump questioned the integrity of Judge Juan Merchan, who was assigned to preside over his trial sessions.
In that case, Trump unsuccessfully sought to force Merchan to step down, arguing that he faced a conflict of interest because the judge’s daughter worked for Democratic politicians.
“We will not be given a fair trial,” the former president told reporters outside the court in Manhattan, adding, “We have a real problem with this judge.”
The judge warned Trump, as is standard for all defendants, that he would have to attend the proceedings in the Manhattan courthouse daily or face arrest. He also warned him not to repeat his attempts to disrupt the sessions with inflammatory posts on social media and outbursts of anger during the sessions.
The case in which the former president is being tried dates back to the final days of his election campaign, which he won in 2016.
It relates to the payment of $130,000 to former pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up a sexual relationship ten years ago with the former president.
For Attorney General Alvin Bragg, the matter constituted electoral fraud because the goal of the operation was to cover up information that might harm the Republican candidate.
One of the challenges of the trial will be determining what Trump knew about these payments when they occurred.
His former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who maintains that he paid Daniels at Trump’s request and was indicted in federal court in this case, will be one of the prosecution’s main witnesses.
Trump has always described the case as a “sham,” and said upon his arrival at the court that the trial was “an attack on the United States.”
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, faces a maximum prison sentence of four years if convicted.
“Continue jury selection.”
image source, Reuters
Donald Trump is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, after no New Yorker jurors could be chosen yesterday.
The process of reducing the number of hundreds of people to only 12 jurors and six alternates began yesterday, as Judge Juan Merchan brought a first group of 96 potential jurors to the Manhattan court, and quickly excluded two-thirds after they admitted that they were unable to take a fair and impartial position in the case.
Dozens of others are scheduled to undergo a similar procedure on Tuesday. The remaining number will later face more detailed interrogation by the judge and lawyers in the coming days.
The jury selection phase, which will decide whether the president is guilty or not, could last until next week or beyond. The identity of the jury members will remain hidden in order to protect them from any bribery or physical harm.
The former president’s trial may continue for another eight weeks after the jury is selected. The proceedings of the historic trial will not be broadcast on television.
“Back to the White House”
image source, EPA
Theoretically, the former president faces a prison sentence, but that will not prevent him from being a candidate in the presidential elections next November 5, but it will put the campaign in an unprecedented situation.
If his innocence is proven, this will be a great success for the Republican candidate in the face of the “political persecution” that the Democratic American administration orchestrated against him, according to Trump.
In an article published by the Los Angeles Times, electoral law expert Richard Hessen expressed his regret at the possibility that this case could be considered a “simple crime related to campaign finance” and that it would be the only one whose trial ends before the elections.
Trump faces four criminal cases that may affect his bid to return to the White House. In his three other criminal cases, the former president faces charges of misusing classified information and trying to overturn his loss in the 2020 elections to his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
Trump described all the criminal cases filed against him as a conspiracy by Biden’s Democrats to undermine his presidential campaign.