The trial of the former US president began in New York on Monday Donald Trump In a criminal case in a precedent for a former president, in a development that may constitute a dramatic shift in a presidential election in which Republicans seek to return to the White House.
The former president, who always described the case as a “sham,” renewed at the conclusion of the first session of this trial his questioning of the integrity of Judge Juan Merchan, who was assigned to preside over his trial sessions.
“We will not be given a fair trial,” Trump told reporters outside the court in Manhattan, adding, “We have a real problem with this judge.”
However, the 77-year-old Trump’s position on this case did not change in any way the position of the judge overseeing it, Merchan, who warned him, in a usual step with all defendants, that he would have to attend the proceedings in the Manhattan court daily, otherwise he would face arrest.
The judge also warned Trump against his repeated attempts to disrupt the sessions with inflammatory posts on social media and outbursts of anger during the sessions.
The judge scheduled a hearing next week for the prosecution to present its defenses regarding Trump’s contempt of court conviction for violating a judicial order prohibiting him from directing criticism at people connected to the case.
Trump is the first former president in the history of the United States to appear before a court in a criminal case, in a trial that could lead to a prison sentence and thus tip the balance of the presidential election campaign that the billionaire is running as a candidate for the Republican Party.
The process of selecting the 12 jury members began, keeping their identities secret to protect them from any bribery or physical harm.
They are charged with deciding whether the Republican billionaire is guilty of falsifying accounting documents for his real estate group, the Trump Organization.
These forged copies, according to the prosecution, allowed the concealment of $130,000 in the final phase of the 2016 election campaign, which was paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up a sexual relationship 10 years ago with Trump, which he denies.
Of the 96 candidates, 50 were quickly excluded, after they admitted that they were unable to take a fair and impartial position in a case related to one of the most famous and controversial men in the world.
Later, 9 others were allowed to leave after announcing reasons preventing them from performing the role required of them, while one of Trump’s lawyers expected that the process would take two weeks.
Lawyers for both sides debated with the judge about the evidence that could be adopted, while Trump sat with his shoulders hunched, looking forward or staring at the computer screen next to his legal team.
A New York Times reporter who was sitting close to the Republican billionaire reported that the latter repeatedly seemed to fall asleep and his head hung down.
The prosecution requested that Trump be fined for violating a ban imposed by Merchan preventing him from criticizing potential witnesses and other court staff on social media.
Merchan indicated that he would decide on this issue later.
Upon his arrival at the court in Manhattan, Trump said in a statement to reporters that the trial was “an attack on the United States.”
In front of the courthouse, a small gathering was held in support of Trump, during which the demonstrators chanted obscene slogans against President Joe Biden and Manhattan Prosecutor Alvin Bragg.
One waved a flag that said, “Trump or death.”
More than 3 years after he left the White House in chaos, Trump (77 years old) theoretically faces a prison sentence, but that will not prevent him from being a candidate in the presidential elections next November 5, during which he seeks revenge on Biden, but it will put the campaign in the dark. An unprecedented situation.
Until recent days, Trump’s lawyers continued in vain to file appeals to delay the trial deadline, and on Saturday evening, during a meeting in Pennsylvania, the former US president once again portrayed himself as a victim of legal and political persecution.
He told his supporters: “Our enemies want to take away my freedom, because I will never allow them to take away your freedom,” confirming that he would testify.
His campaign team described the trial as “a direct attack on American democracy,” and said in a statement: “These charges are completely fabricated in order to interfere in the elections.”
The trial is receiving global media coverage, although the sessions will be held behind closed doors.
In response to 34 charges brought against Trump a year ago on the grounds of “forgery of accounting documents,” each of which is punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to 4 years, the billionaire pleaded not guilty, denouncing, as he did in the context of other cases, a “brutal harassment” campaign aimed at preventing him from returning to the country. White House.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 4 years in prison for each charge, but there is no mandatory prison term, and the judge could also decide to grant him conditional release.
The case over which Trump 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 10 years ago with the former president.
For Attorney General Alvin Bragg, it represents 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 confirms that he paid money to Daniels at Trump’s request and was convicted in a federal court in this case, will be one of the main witnesses for the prosecution.
ظهرت في الأصل على asharq.com