Former President Donald Trump is going to court in New York City today. He is on trial for charges related to paying hush money to a woman before the 2016 election.
- Trump denies any wrongdoing and calls the case a “witch hunt”
- Prosecutors say Trump falsely recorded the hush money payments in business records
- Trump’s lawyers will argue the payments were legal and not campaign donations
- The judge’s impartiality has been questioned due to his daughter’s ties to Democrats
Do you think Trump will be found guilty or not guilty? Keep reading to learn more.
What is the Hush Money Case About?
In 2016, Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels. The payment was to stop Daniels from sharing an alleged affair with Trump years earlier.
Prosecutors claim Trump then falsely recorded the payment as being for “legal services” in his business records. They say this violated New York laws against falsifying business records.
Trump denies any wrongdoing. His lawyers will argue:
- The payment to Daniels was legal and not an illegal, undeclared campaign donation
- Trump was not personally involved in how the payment was recorded
- The business records were accurate and lawful
Questions About Judge’s Impartiality
The judge in the case, Juan Merchan, has faced calls to step aside due to potential bias. Here are the concerns:
- Merchants daughter works for a Democratic consulting firm
- Her firm has raised millions citing Trump’s prosecution, which her father oversees
- Legal experts say this creates a conflict of interest that requires Merchants recusal
However, despite Trump’s objections, Merchant has refused to remove himself from the case.
Trump’s team has argued Merchan is “hyper-biased” against Trump and “determined to find him guilty.” They believe Manhattan is an unfair venue that leans against Trump.
High Stakes for Trump
Getting convicted of falsifying business records would be a minor legal offense for Trump. But it would deal a major blow politically by making him a convicted felon.
Prosecutors likely have two goals, according to Gregg Jarrett, a former prosecutor:
- Keep Trump tied up in court so he can’t campaign effectively
- Secure a felony conviction to seriously damage his chances of becoming president again
Critics have accused prosecutors of pursuing this case to deliberately interfere in the 2024 presidential election, which Trumpย is expectedย to run in.
With opening statements today, it remains to be seen if this case will impact Trump’s political future. What’s your view on whether Trump should have been trialed over this?
