Donald Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. The 2024 Republican presumptive presidential nominee faces the threat of prison if he is convicted. The New York case alleges that Trump falsified the financial transaction behind the $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Here’s what you need to know about the case and what’s happening today:
19 April at a glance: what’s going to happen?
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Trump is set to appear in court for the fourth day of his hush-money trial on Friday, with 12 jurors and one alternate already selected and five more alternates to be chosen before jury selection wraps up.
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The process has proved complicated because of the polarizing and high-profile defendant. Prospective juror had been grilled on their political leanings, their social media posts and many other facets of their lives.
Trump hush-money trial status: Trump pleaded not guilty; trial began 15 April 2024.
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Charges: 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.
Hush-money case summary: The case involves a hush-money scheme during the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to quash her story about having an extramarital affair with the former president. Trump has denied the affair took place. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally reimbursing Cohen for the hush-money payment by falsely classifying the transaction, executed by the Trump Organization, as legal expenses.
Verdict before election? Likely