New York prosecutors said on the first day of Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial that the former president broke the law and corrupted the 2016 election by trying to cover up sexual encounters with a porn star and a Playboy model, while his defense lawyer said he committed no crime.

New York

### Jury Hears Opening Statements at Trump Hush Money Trial

In New York, the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has begun, focusing on allegations that he unlawfully attempted to conceal sexual encounters with a porn star and a Playboy model to influence the 2016 election outcome. Prosecutors argue that Trump's actions represented a clear violation of the law, aimed at corrupting the electoral process by hiding his affairs with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.

During the opening statements, the defense countered the prosecution's charges, asserting that Donald Trump committed no crime. His defense argued that attempting to influence an election is a standard democratic practice, not a legal offense. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to disguise a $130,000 payment to Daniels, denies the alleged sexual encounter.

The prosecution's case highlighted that the payment to Daniels, supposedly for her silence about an encounter a decade prior, was falsely recorded as legal fees to Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen, who has had numerous clients over the years, has distanced himself from the allegations, suggesting the legal troubles he faces are unrelated to Trump.

David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, was introduced by the prosecution as their first witness. Pecker is implicated in a so-called "catch and kill" operation aimed at burying negative stories about Trump to aid his presidential campaign. He is scheduled for further testimony as the trial progresses.

This trial marks one of four criminal prosecutions against Trump, potentially impacting his prospective political future. As the only case likely to be adjudicated before the next election, its outcome could influence voter perceptions. Current polling indicates that a conviction might deter half of the independent voters and a quarter of Republican voters from supporting Trump.



Jury hears opening statements at Trump hush money trial

Donald Trump left a Manhattan courthouse after the first day of his historic criminal trial Monday when the jury heard opening statements about hush money paid to a porn star. Prosecutors said the former president broke the law and deceived voters in the 2016 election by trying to cover up sexual encounters with adult film actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Trump's defense attorney told the jury that his client committed no crime, adding quote, There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy. Trump is charged with falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Daniels in 2016 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she says they had 10 years earlier. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies the encounter took place. Prosecutors said on Monday that Trump disguised payments to his personal lawyer Michael Cohen as legal services, when in fact they were meant to reimburse him for paying off Daniels. Cohen is a lawyer, represented a lot of people over the years. I'm not the only one. That checks being paid to a lawyer, he is a lawyer or was a lawyer. And also the things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. Jurors also heard briefly from the prosecution's first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who prosecutors say participated in a catch and kill scheme to suppress unflattering stories about Trump and help him get elected. He is expected to return for more questioning Tuesday. The hush money case may be the only one of Trump's four criminal prosecutions to go to trial before the November 5th election. A guilty verdict would not bar him from taking office, but it could hurt his candidacy. As Reuters Ipsos polling shows, half of independent voters and one in four Republicans say they would not vote for Trump if he is convicted of a crime.

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Canberra

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Buenos Aires

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Odesa

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Edinburgh

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