The trial of former President Trump, arising from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation into purported Trump hush-money payments before the 2016 presidential election, is scheduled to commence on Monday with the selection of jurors.
This marks the first trial of the election year for the 2024 expected Republican presidential candidate. Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan is overseeing the trial.
Trump's legal team had requested Merchan's removal from the case, citing the judge's daughter's involvement in Democratic politics and alleged bias against the former president.
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the trial of former President Trump over his alleged hush money scheme involving adult film performer Stormy Daniels. The trial will be the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. @vaughnhillyard reports. https://t.co/klHqUzXazi
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) April 15, 2024
Source: Twitter/NBCNightlyNews
What is Trump charged with in the Trump hush-money case?
- Last April, the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, filed 34 charges against Donald Trump for allegedly falsifying business records.
- These charges stem from supposed hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
- Bragg claims that Trump repeatedly and fraudulently altered New York business records to hide illegal activities from voters during the election.
Catch and Kill Tactic:
The indictment suggests that Trump and others used a "catch and kill" tactic to acquire and bury negative information about him to improve his chances in the election. According to New York state law, the charges imply that Trump intentionally falsified business records with the aim of defrauding others.
Previous Investigations:
Back in 2019, federal prosecutors in New York City didn't pursue charges against Trump over payments made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Similarly, the Federal Election Commission ended its investigation in 2021.
Detailed Allegations:
Bragg alleges that Trump orchestrated a scheme involving payments to hide negative stories about him, including claims made by a former Trump Tower doorman and Karen McDougal. Trump supposedly instructed his lawyer, likely referring to Michael Cohen, to repay American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer. Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2019 to campaign finance violations among other charges, claims he acted under Trump's direction.
Reimbursement Scheme:
Bragg asserts that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payments through a series of monthly checks, initially from a trust and later from Trump's bank account. These checks were disguised as payments for legal services rendered under a nonexistent agreement. In total, 34 false entries were allegedly made in New York business records to cover up the original $130,000 payment. Additionally, steps were taken to misrepresent the nature of the reimbursements for tax purposes.
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