It's a historic day in New York City as the first criminal trial of a former president and presumptive presidential candidate begins. Donald Trump has faced three civil trials in New York since he left the White House, but this is the first time he has faced a possible prison sentence.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, stemming from refunds made to Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, for money payments he made before the 2016 election to an adult film star who alleged an affair with Trump. The former president pleaded not guilty and denied the affair with Stormy Daniels.
It's known as the “hush money” trial, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says this case is about election interference, alleging that the $130,000 payment was part of a larger scheme implemented by Trump and his allies. allies from 2015 to 2017 to maintain information harmful to voters. .
Prosecutors allege that once the Access Hollywood tape became public, the campaign was fighting to overturn Daniels' indictment out of concern about how it would affect female voters. Prosecutors will have to prove that Trump is guilty of falsifying business records with the intention of hiding that $130,000 payment.
Read more about the trial – and what is at stake.
