Trump’s defence to make opening statement in ‘hush money’ trial
Al Jazeera
Prosecutors and defence to lay out broad strokes arguments in what is an unprecedented trial against a former president.
Former United States President Donald Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors will make opening statements in the businessman-turned-politician’s trial into alleged hush money payments made to an adult film star.
The case marks the first time that prosecutors are presenting a criminal case against a former president to a jury, and the trial is taking place months before November’s US presidential election, in which Trump is expected to face off against incumbent Joe Biden.
The proceedings on Monday will see both sides lay out their arguments in broad strokes while simultaneously hinting at the legal strategies they plan to deploy in what is expected to be a six-week trial.
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in what prosecutors allege was an effort to divert campaign donations to pay “hush money” to Stormy Daniels, who has alleged a sexual encounter with Trump.
Prosecutors have alleged the crimes were committed in tandem with a second crime to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election, which would elevate the misdemeanour violations to more serious felonies. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office asserts that Trump paid Daniels to buy her silence going into the final weeks of a tight race between Trump, a Republican, and the Democratic nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
