Justice
In court: First criminal trial against Trump begins
The first criminal trial against former US President Donald Trump begins today in New York. photo
© Joe Lamberti/AP/dpa
For the first time in US history, a criminal trial has started against an ex-president. Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in the hush money trial. If convicted, you could face prison.
The 77-year-old is accused of, among other things, falsifying business documents in connection with hush money payments to a porn star. Trump has pleaded not guilty. According to the court, the process could take up to eight weeks. If convicted, Trump could face a prison sentence of several years, which could also be suspended.
Trump does not deny that money was flowed
The background to the case is that Trump had $130,000 in hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, shortly before his election as president. She had claimed that she had had sex with him. Trump denies an affair, but does not deny that money was flowed. Non-disclosure agreements between two parties are not inherently illegal. However, Trump is accused of illegally recording the payments, trying to conceal them illegally and thereby trying to cover up other violations of the law.
The lawyers of the Republican, who wants to be re-elected US President in November, had until recently tried to avert, postpone or delay the proceedings. The trial was actually scheduled to begin on March 25, but Judge Juan Merchan granted a postponement requested by the defense and prosecution in order to allow new evidence to be examined. However, Merchan had rejected further postponements.
Three more criminal trials against Trump are being prepared
Three more criminal trials against Trump are currently being prepared in the USA, including for attempted election fraud and taking secret government documents. There are also numerous civil lawsuits. The ex-president and his legal team are trying to block or delay the proceedings by all means and have already been partially successful in doing so.
The hush money trial involves less serious allegations than the other cases, but experts say it is the trial that could possibly be completed first. Trump denies all allegations against him and says he sees himself as a victim of a politically motivated justice system.