On a Monday morning in room 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Court, Donald Trump is set to go on trial for alleged crimes, marking an unprecedented event in American history. Flanked by his attorneys, Secret Service agents, and key campaign staff, Trump will be seated in the largest courtroom in the 83-year-old building to face the first of four criminal prosecutions against him. These cases include charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C. and Florida, as well as a state case brought by prosecutors in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming they are part of a plot by his political opponents to keep him from re-taking the White House.
The proceedings on Monday will begin with arguments between Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office over trial rules. The first of more than 500 potential jurors will then be escorted into the room, with tight security inside and outside the courthouse. Demonstrators for and against Trump are anticipated, as seen in his recent civil defamation trial where potential jurors were visibly shocked to see him at the defense table. In Judge Juan Manuel Merchan’s courtroom, many will be able to observe Trump’s reactions as the judge describes the case, including allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.
Judge Merchan is expected to mention two key witnesses in the case, Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels, who Trump considers archnemeses. It is alleged that Trump made false business records to hide payments made to Cohen that were intended to reimburse him for money paid to Daniels to prevent her from revealing details about a past sexual encounter with Trump. Trump, as a criminal defendant, is required to attend proceedings each day of the trial unless he applies for a waiver. He will watch as his lawyers and prosecutors seek to select a jury of 12 members, plus alternates, before presenting their cases. Trump has entered a not guilty plea to 34 counts of falsification of business records, accusing Bragg of bringing the case for political gain.
In a letter to members of Congress, a lawyer for Bragg defended the charges as being brought by citizens of New York who found probable cause to accuse Trump of committing crimes in the state. The trial in Manhattan Criminal Court is the first of four criminal prosecutions against Trump to go to trial, and it is expected to draw significant attention given his status as a former president. The high-profile case involving allegations of falsifying business records for political gain will be closely watched as Trump faces off against prosecutors and key witnesses in the courtroom. The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for Trump’s legacy and political future, as he continues to maintain his innocence and fight against what he claims is a conspiracy by his opponents to keep him out of office.
