The first day consisted of tough exchanges between the defense and prosecutors regarding which evidence should be presented. The complicated selection of the jury also began.
– They brought in 96 people who were intended for the jury, but half said they might not be objective and were weeded out, says SVT’s correspondent Stefan Åsberg.
with the USA in 2024
The jury process is expected to take between one and two weeks.
Trump: “Attack on the United States”
On the spot before the trial, Trump called the historic trial “political persecution” and “an attack on the United States.”
– No one has seen anything like it, says Trump, according to CNN.
Trump is accused of violating accounting and campaign finance laws when he paid $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels just weeks before the 2016 presidential election.
The reason is said to have been to silence Stormy Daniels who claims that they had a sexual relationship with each other, something Trump denied. But the indictment is regarding whether the payment was made to influence the election result and whether it was recorded illegally.
“Challenge for the prosecutor”
The money was paid out through Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.
– It is a big challenge for the prosecutor to prove that Trump knew that the transaction was made. Even if the prosecution has Cohen as a star witness, says SVT’s correspondent Stefan Åsberg.
Trump says he is innocent
Trump, who is likely to be the Republican presidential candidate in the US election, has pleaded not guilty and says the trial is politically motivated.
– If he is convicted of minor crimes, a prison sentence is not likely, but possible, says Richard L Hasen, professor of law at UCLA.
Will he be able to serve as president if convicted?
– There is nothing in the constitution that prevents a convicted felon from holding the office of president.
Four criminal charges
The trial will be the first of the four criminal charges brought once morest the ex-president and include 34 charges.
– This applies to relatively minor crimes compared to the other three targets. It would be an irony of fate if he were sentenced to prison for the least serious crime. But it can happen.
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“If Trump is convicted of minor crimes, a prison sentence is not likely,” said law professor Richard L Hasen. Photo: Reuters
