Former President Donald Trump is facing criminal charges in a New York courtroom related to allegations of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during the 2016 campaign. The trial, which began on Tuesday, aims to select a panel of jurors to determine Trump's guilt or innocence.
After the first day of the trial, no jurors had been selected yet. Many prospective jurors were dismissed for stating they couldn't be fair, while others are still awaiting questioning. This trial is the first of Trump's four criminal cases to go to trial and could potentially reach a verdict before the upcoming November election.
The charges against Trump include 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal salacious stories about his sex life during the 2016 campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has criticized the case as a politically motivated 'scam' and 'witch hunt.'
The allegations revolve around $130,000 in payments made by Trump's company to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to prevent porn actor Stormy Daniels from disclosing her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump denies the encounter ever took place and insists the payment was not related to the campaign.
Jury selection is expected to continue for several more days or even weeks in New York City, where Trump has deep roots. The process has seen many potential jurors excused for various reasons, including an inability to be fair and impartial.
This trial puts Trump's legal troubles at the forefront of the presidential race, with Trump positioning himself as a victim of a biased justice system. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Trump's political future.
