Trump calls hush money trial ‘assault on America’ as case officially kicks off

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Former President Donald Trump officially arrived to a Manhattan courtroom Monday as the hush money case kicks off, the place he’ll face trial over 34 counts of falsifying enterprise information within the first diploma. 

“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” Trump stated on the courthouse Monday. “This is political persecution … it’s a case that should have never been brought.”

“This is an assault on America and that’s why I’m very proud to be here,” he added. 

TRUMP’S HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY AS JURY SELECTION BEGINS

Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City

Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City, Monday, April 15, 2024. Jury choice begins immediately within the so-called hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court this morning. (Probe-Media for Fox News Digital)

The forty fifth president left Trump Tower early Monday morning, the place he was seen waving to supporters earlier than heading to Manhattan Criminal Court. 

NINE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUMP TRIAL, ANSWERED

Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City

Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City, Monday, April 15, 2024. Jury choice begins immediately within the so-called hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court this morning. (Probe-Media for Fox News Digital)

The trial marks the primary time a former president will stand trial over felony costs. 

FIVE KEY QUESTIONS ON HOW START OF TRUMP’S FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL WILL IMPACT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Dubbed the “hush money” case, the trial focuses on funds made by Trump’s former private legal professional, Michael Cohen, to former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels forward of the 2016 election. The $130,000 fee was to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with the then-real property tycoon in 2006.

Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not responsible to the 34 costs in opposition to him.

Donald Trump waving

Former US President Donald Trump departs Trump Tower for Manhattan Criminal Court, to attend the primary day of his trial for allegedly overlaying up hush money funds linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City on April 15, 2024. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP through Getty Images)

THE TRUMP TRIALS: HERE’S WHERE EACH CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT STANDS

Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen, and fraudulently logged the funds as authorized bills. Falsifying enterprise information is a misdemeanor, however prosecutors are working to show that Trump falsified information with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which might be a felony. 

Former US President Donald Trump at Manhattan criminal court in New York

Former US President Donald Trump at Manhattan felony courtroom in New York, US, on Monday, April 15, 2024. Jury choice beings Monday in Trump’s felony trial the place he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise information as a part of an alleged scheme to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters throughout his 2016 presidential marketing campaign.  (Angela Weiss/AFP/Bloomberg through Getty Images)

“During the election, TRUMP and others employed a ‘catch and kill’ scheme to identify, purchase, and bury negative information about him and boost his electoral prospects,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged final yr. “TRUMP then went to great lengths to hide this conduct, causing dozens of false entries in business records to conceal criminal activity, including attempts to violate state and federal election laws.”

‘I TELL THE TRUTH’: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL TESTIFY AT HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS JUDGE REJECTS LAST MINUTE PLEA

Trump has repeatedly slammed the trial as a “witch hunt,” and kicked off Monday by calling the presiding Judge Juan Merchan “crooked” whereas demanding his “VOICE back” after Merchan positioned a gag order on Trump making public statements about potential witnesses. 

Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at Manhattan criminal court

Former US President Donald Trump, heart, speaks to members of the media at Manhattan felony courtroom in New York, US, on Monday, April 15, 2024.  (Angela Weiss/AFP/Bloomberg through Getty Images)

“I want my VOICE back. This Crooked Judge has GAGGED me. Unconstitutional! The other side can talk about me, but I am not allowed to talk about them! Rigged Trial!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Former President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York

Former President Donald Trump attends the primary day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15, 2024.  (Angela Weiss/AFP through AP, POOL)

Trump, when he arrived on the courthouse Monday, continued that the trial “is actually an assault on a political opponent.

The trial will start with jury choice, the place potential jurors will likely be introduced with an outline of the case and requested whether or not they can serve in a good and neutral method. 

Former US President Donald Trump at Manhattan criminal court

Former US President Donald Trump at Manhattan felony courtroom in New York, US, on Monday, April 15, 2024.  (Angela Weiss/AFP/Bloomberg through Getty Images)

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Those who present they can’t be neutral will likely be dismissed, whereas those that stay will likely be requested a collection of 42 questions, which Merchan launched in a letter final week, together with questions such as: “Do you have any political, moral, intellectual, or religious beliefs or opinions which might prevent you from following the court’s instructions on the law or which might slant your approach to this case?”

The case is anticipated to final a minimum of six weeks. 

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