FORMER President Donald Trump glared in a Manhattan courtroom for the start of jury selection in his criminal hush money trial.
The historic trial against Trump marks the first time a former US president will be tried on criminal charges.
Former President Donald Trump is pictured inside Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday for the start of jury selection in his criminal hush money trialAP
APDonald Trump was pictured entering a Manhattan courtroom[/caption]
AFPThe charges stem from a $130,000 payment Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly made to adult star Stormy Daniels in 2016[/caption]
ReutersFormer President Donald Trump sits with his attorney Todd Blanche before Justice Juan Merchan[/caption]
The charges, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last year, stem from a $130,000 payment Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly made to adult star Stormy Daniels a month before the 2016 presidential election.
The alleged payment was made to keep Daniels quiet from going public with allegations about her affair with Trump.
Trump has publicly denied having a sexual encounter with the adult actress.
The former president is accused of repaying Cohen in installments by marking them as legal fees in company records.
Trump seethed at reporters as he made his way into the Downtown Manhattan courtroom, calling the trial an “assault on America.”
“This is an assault on America. Nothing like this has ever happened before, there’s never been anything like it,” the 2024 Republican presidential candidate said.
“Every legal scholar said this case is nonsense. It should never have been brought, it doesn’t deserve anything like this.
“There is no case, and they’ve said it. People that don’t necessarily follow or, like Donald Trump said, this is an outrage that this case was brought.
“This is political persecution. This is a persecution like never before. Nobody has ever seen anything like it, and again, it’s a case that should have never been brought.”
Trump continued, “It’s an assault on America, and that’s why I’m very proud to be here. This is an assault on our country, and it’s a country that’s failing.
“It’s a country that’s run by an incompetent man who’s very much involved in this case. This is really an attack on a political opponent that’s all it is.”
Trump is required to be present for the entire trial, which could last as long as eight weeks.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche said Trump intends to be present during the trial, but there may be an occasion that would merit his absence.
Presiding Judge Juan Merchan warned the former president that if he fails to show up to court without any explanation, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, a low-level felony punishable by up to four years in prison.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheUSSun