Opening Arguments in Trump Trial Begin on Monday

The criminal proceedings against former US President Donald Trump (2017-2021) have begun, with allegations that he paid hush money to a porn actress in order to protect his 2016 presidential campaign. The trial in New York has entered the phase of presenting initial arguments, accusing Trump of falsifying documents to ensure the actress’s silence and prevent negative information from affecting his election.

According to the prosecution, Trump, along with his former lawyer Michael Cohen and others, engaged in a scheme to influence the 2016 elections by suppressing damaging information. The payment of $130,000 to silence the porn actress, Stormy Daniels, was part of this plan to prevent her from disclosing her relationship with Trump while his wife, Melania, was pregnant.

The trial marks the first time a former US president has faced criminal charges, as Trump gears up for a potential return to the White House in the upcoming November election. The jury selection process has been completed, with 12 jurors and 6 alternates chosen, including a woman of Spanish origin who passed the suitability criteria set by the judge.

There is speculation whether Trump will testify in his own defense, with prosecutors indicating they may question him about other legal battles he is involved in. Trump has maintained his innocence, pledging not guilty to the 34 felony charges related to the hush money scheme. Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 4 years.

The defense team is expected to challenge the credibility of prosecution witnesses, especially Michael Cohen, who played a key role in the hush money payment. Concerns have been raised over the safety of the jury, with restrictions on the release of information that could identify them. This trial in Manhattan is the first of four criminal cases Trump faces, with additional legal challenges in Georgia, Washington DC, and Florida related to his actions during and after his presidency.