The key players to know in the Trump "hush money" trial, set to begin Monday

When former President Donald Trump's criminal trial begins in New York on Monday, it will mark the culmination of a yearslong investigation and open a new chapter of a story that goes back even further, to an alleged affair in 2006.

It's a tale that weaves together presidential politics, tabloid headlines and the mundane intricacies of corporate ledgers. The trial will feature a unique cast of characters, some of whom are already household names, while others are stepping into the spotlight for the first time.

These are some of the key figures to know as the first ever criminal trial of a former president begins.