Prosecutors in the historic “hush money” case against former US President Donald Trump accused him of meddling in the 2016 elections on the first day of jury selection.
In the trial, one of the four criminal cases against former President Donald Trump, concerning allegations of paying “hush money” to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 Presidential elections, the jury selection for the trial took place. During the trial attended by Trump, the jury heard from the first witness for the prosecution, David Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer. Pecker is alleged to have used his media influence to suppress negative stories about Trump’s presidential campaign.
The prosecutors described Trump’s actions, including the payment to Daniels, as part of an effort to deceive voters, considering the other charges he faced, and accused Trump of interfering in the 2016 elections.
“This was a simple and straightforward election fraud.”
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo stated, “This was a long-standing conspiracy planned and coordinated to influence the 2016 elections, help Donald Trump get elected by making illegal payments to suppress negative stories about his behavior. This was a simple and straightforward election fraud.”
“This is called democracy.”
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche argued to the jury that Trump did not commit any crimes and that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should not have opened the case. Blanche said, “Trying to influence elections is not wrong. This is called democracy. They’re loading an ominous meaning onto the idea as if it were a crime.”
“This is a witch hunt conducted by Biden to keep me away from the campaign.”
Speaking to reporters after the trial, Trump said he believed the trial went “very well,” stating that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initially did not want to prepare an indictment. Trump emphasized that the contents of the case “date back many years,” calling it “a witch hunt conducted by Biden to keep me away from the campaign.”
Trump targeted Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over his civil fraud case, saying he had “no idea what was going on,” claiming he couldn’t understand basic financial concepts, yet still made a decision that “shook the world.”
The “hush money” case:
Adult film actress Daniels claimed she signed an agreement in 2016, receiving $130,000 to remain silent about her relationship with Trump. Daniels argued the agreement was invalid because it was not signed by Trump. Trump denied Daniels’ claims. However, Michael Cohen, who served as Trump’s lawyer before the 2016 election, confirmed he made a $130,000 payment to Daniels on Trump’s behalf from his own account. Cohen later claimed he received approximately $420,000 in reimbursements from Trump’s companies, along with bonuses. In a separate case, Cohen was arrested on charges of tax evasion and lying to Congress as part of an investigation into Trump’s campaign finances. He pleaded guilty to nine federal charges, including campaign finance violations, and was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2018.
Trump faced charges last year on April 4, for allegedly tampering with financial records to cover up the payment, and he rejected all 34 charges against him after hearing the allegations in court. The trial began with jury selection on April 15. – NEW YORK
