Donald Trump’s long-awaited trial over payments to former porn actress Stormy Daniels begins this Monday in New York with jury selection. Trump, who is the first former US president to face criminal charges, faces 34 charges. The case stems from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s $130,000 payment to the actress in 2016, a month before the presidential election. The money was intended to buy Daniels’ silence about the alleged “affair” she had with Trump in 2006. The payment itself did not violate any law, but Trump is accused of falsifying his companies’ accounting records to reimburse his lawyer, claiming “legal expenses.” The former president denies having an extramarital affair with the actress, but admits he bought her silence so as not to embarrass his family during the election campaign. He also claims that the trial is nothing more than a political maneuver aimed at hurting him in the next presidential election. The jury selection process is expected to take a week and the trial could last up to two months. Trump risks being sentenced to four years in prison for each of the 34 forgery-related crimes he is accused of, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of 136 years.
JUSTICE OTHER PROCESSES This is the first of four Trump criminal cases to go to trial. The former president is also accused of trying to disrupt the 2020 election, manipulating elections in Georgia and diverting classified documents. CONVICTION AVOIDS JAIL Even if he is found guilty, Trump is unlikely to go to prison. His age (77 years old), lack of criminal record and status as a former president could warrant him being placed on probation or, in extreme cases, house arrest.
JUSTICE OTHER PROCESSES This is the first of four Trump criminal cases to go to trial. The former president is also accused of trying to disrupt the 2020 election, manipulating elections in Georgia and diverting classified documents. CONVICTION AVOIDS JAIL Even if he is found guilty, Trump is unlikely to go to prison. His age (77 years old), lack of criminal record and status as a former president could warrant him being placed on probation or, in extreme cases, house arrest.