Criminal Trial Begins for Hush Money Case Involving Mr. Trump

Former President Trump’s criminal trial is underway, and he is accused of making payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels as he neared his 2016 election victory. The trial, taking place in a New York City courthouse, is a highly significant event for both Trump and the country. The proceedings have been largely technical, with Trump’s legal team engaging in debates with the prosecution over admissible evidence.

Despite his past disruptions in other cases, Trump remained silent and attentive during this trial, except for a few interactions with the judge. The judge, Juan Merchan, faced Trump’s accusations of corruption on social media after declining the defense’s requests for recusal. The trial is expected to last up to two months, with a pool of 500 prospective jurors from which more than 100 will be present at any given time.

During the trial, Trump regularly consulted with his lawyers and expressed disagreement with the prosecutors’ comments. He also reacted to some audio evidence but remained unresponsive when a controversial tape was played. Trump set the tone for the trial, portraying it as an “assault on America” and “political persecution.”

Following the proceedings, five photographers were permitted to capture the unprecedented scene of a former president seated at the defendant’s table. *(The contents of this story have not been altered by NDTV staff and are derived from a syndicated feed. )*