The trial against former US President Donald Trump began with the prosecution making it clear that this case is more than just a sexual scandal. It is the first time in history that a former president is facing criminal proceedings. The charges against Trump are related to an attempt to interfere in the 2016 elections by hiding negative information about the candidate from voters.
On the first day of the trial, Trump, 77, was present in the Manhattan court. The case involves a payment made to porn actress Stephanie Gliffords, also known as Stormy Daniels, by Trump’s lawyer and confidant, Michael Cohen. Prosecutors claim that Trump allowed his company to falsify records to hide these payments, which were made to silence Daniels about a relationship during the 2016 campaign.
The Prosecutor’s Office framed the process as a violation of electoral campaign financing laws rather than a minor crime of falsifying accounting documents. If found guilty, Trump could be sentenced to 4 years in prison. The prosecution argues that Trump orchestrated a plan to manipulate the 2016 election and covered it up by lying in his business documents.
According to prosecutors, Trump’s pattern of crime includes paying for silence when faced with stories that could affect his electoral ambitions. This involved several payments to individuals like Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep their relationships with Trump under wraps. The case is one of four criminal cases that Trump faces and could impact his presidential campaign.
Despite facing trials, Trump’s supporters remain firm in their loyalty towards him. However, if found guilty on these charges, it could have an impact on his political career and potentially complicate his bid for re-election in November 2020.