Manhattan district attorney’s office prosecutors present evidence and try to persuade and charm 12 jurors first in trial.
The highly anticipated criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump is set to begin in New York City on Monday with a jury of 12 individuals from the local community. The trial will focus on allegations that Mr. Trump engaged in a cover-up of a sex scandal involving a payment to a porn star, which could have significant implications for the American political landscape and the legal system as a whole.
During the opening statements, both the prosecution and defense will present their arguments to the jury, offering differing perspectives on the evidence against Mr. Trump. These statements are crucial in setting the stage for the trial, providing a glimpse of what witnesses will testify to and what documents will be presented as evidence.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office are expected to assert that Mr. Trump orchestrated a scheme to conceal damaging information that could have impacted his 2016 presidential campaign. They will highlight the role of Mr. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, in suppressing these stories, including a payment of $130,000 to a porn star who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump years earlier.
Central to the prosecution’s case are allegations that Mr. Trump repaid Mr. Cohen for the hush money through falsified records, constituting a criminal offense. Mr. Cohen is anticipated to be a key witness for the prosecution, providing firsthand accounts of his involvement in the scheme.
The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Mr. Trump but also for the broader political and legal landscape in the United States. The trial will be closely watched by the public, media, and legal experts alike, as it unfolds in the coming weeks.
Source: The NY Times
