Criminal Trial Begins for Hush Money Case Involving Mr. Trump

Former US President Donald Trump’s ongoing criminal trial has been marked by a departure from his usual disruptive behavior in courtroom proceedings. Despite disputes between his legal team and the prosecution over admissible evidence, Trump remained visibly attentive and mostly silent during the trial. The case is taking place in courtroom 1530 of a historic courthouse on New York City’s Centre Street and is expected to have significant implications for both Trump and the country. The trial focuses on payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 election campaign.

Alongside this criminal trial, Trump is also appealing a $355 million civil penalty from a separate civil fraud trial. Over 100 prospective jurors from a pool of 500 are expected to be present during the trial. During the proceedings, Trump was seen conferring with his lawyers and reacting with visible disagreement to certain comments made by the prosecutors. His demeanor shifted when audio clips of his past statements were played, showing varied reactions to different pieces of evidence.

Before the trial began, Trump made statements characterizing the case as “political persecution” and “an assault on America”, positioning himself as a victim facing an unjust legal system. These comments set the tone for the trial and underscored his perception of the proceedings as an attack on him as a political opponent. The unprecedented nature of the trial was highlighted when five photographers were granted access to capture the scene of a former president seated at the defendant’s table.