Donald Trump made history as the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial, where he faced charges stemming from a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter from 2006. Despite his legal team's efforts to delay or disrupt the proceedings, Trump attended the trial, where Justice Juan Merchan set guidelines for witnesses and evidence presentation, and rejected a request for the judge's recusal.
The trial, taking place in New York City, is expected to be a lengthy process, potentially lasting until May, requiring Trump to be present throughout. As part of the legal battle, New York state prosecutors have accused Trump of falsifying business records in connection to the payment to Daniels during the final days of the 2016 election campaign, an allegation he has vehemently denied. Additionally, this case is viewed as the least significant among the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces, but it carries unique weight as the only one slated for trial before the upcoming election. If convicted, Trump's political future may be impacted, as hinted by polling data indicating the potential consequences of a guilty verdict on his candidacy.
Trump, who has portrayed the legal challenges as politically motivated attacks, has faced criticism from various corners, with court actions prompting limited gag orders against him, and previous attempts to disqualify Judge Merchan citing conflicts of interest. As the trial progresses, a diverse range of witnesses, including Stormy Daniels, Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen, and former National Enquirer executive David Pecker, are expected to testify, shedding light on the complexities surrounding the case. The trial's focus on alleged campaign finance violations tied to the 2016 election adds layers of political intrigue, as Trump's defense team emphasizes the legality of the payments to Cohen amid the legal scrutiny.