As the clock strikes 9:30 ET on Monday morning, order is called in room 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Court, marking the commencement of an unprecedented event in American history: a former president facing trial for alleged crimes.
Donald Trump, flanked by his legal team, Secret Service agents, and key campaign aides, will be seated on the left side of the expansive courtroom in the 83-year-old building. The table at which he sits has hosted numerous defendants in the past.
This trial is the inaugural of four criminal cases against Trump to reach the trial stage. He is confronting charges in two federal lawsuits initiated by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C., and Florida, along with a state lawsuit brought by prosecutors in Georgia. Trump maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to all allegations and asserting that the prosecutions are a ploy by his political adversaries to prevent his return to the White House.
Monday's Trial Update
As Monday's proceedings kick off, Trump's legal team and prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office will spar over trial rules. Over 500 potential jurors are set to arrive amidst tight security measures, with pro and anti-Trump demonstrators expected.
Observers will have a clear view of Trump as the judge outlines the case. Justice Juan Merchan is anticipated to state that the allegations revolve around Trump falsifying business records to hide an illicit 2016 election influence agreement.
The judge will highlight two prominent key witnesses in the case: Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, both adversaries of Trump.
Allegations suggest Trump falsified records to mask payments to Cohen as legal fees, which were actually hush money for Daniels to conceal a past encounter with Trump before the election.
During the trial, Trump is obligated to be present at the proceedings every day unless he requests an exemption. He is expected to be in attendance on Monday and for several more days, observing as his legal team and prosecutors work to select 12 jurors and a few alternates. Following this, both parties will commence presenting their arguments.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records. He has alleged that Bragg is pursuing the case for personal political advantage. In response to this claim, a letter from Bragg's attorney to Congress members last year stated that the charges "were brought by citizens of New York, fulfilling their civic duty as grand jury members, who identified probable cause to accuse Mr. Trump of committing crimes in New York."
