NEW YORK (AP) — Monday’s opening statements in the first criminal trial of a former American president provided a clear roadmap of how prosecutors will try to make the case that Donald Trump broke the law, and how the defense plans to fight the charges on multiple fronts.
Lawyers presented dueling narratives as jurors got their first glimpse into the prosecution accusing Trump of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to squelch negative stories about him during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Still to come are weeks of what’s likely to be dramatic and embarrassing testimony about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s personal life as he simultaneously campaigns to return to the White House in November.
Here’s a look at some key takeaways from opening statements:
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records. But prosecutors made clear they do not want jurors to view this as a routine paper case. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said the heart of the case is a scheme to “corrupt” the 2016 election by silencing people who were about to come forward with embarrassing stories Trump feared would hurt his campaign.
“No politician wants bad press,” Colangelo said. “But the evidence at trial will show that this was not spin or communication strategy. This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election, to help Donald Trump get elected through illegal expenditures to silence people who had something bad to say about his behavior.” He added: “It was election fraud, pure and simple.”
The business records charges stem from things like invoices and checks that were deemed legal expenses in Trump Organization records when prosecutors say they were really reimbursements to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Daniels was threatening to go public with claims she had an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump. He says it never happened.
William Strickland, a longtime civil rights activist, scholar and friend of Malcom X, has died
Japan urged cooperation in international monitoring for the disposal of nuclear
NPC spokesperson affirms full support for HK's legislation of Article 23
State secrets law revised to handle online leaks
Commanders release Shaka Toney after he was reinstated following a gambling suspension
Woman spends 5 years making clothes for children in need
New cultural buildings open in capital's sub
Changbai Mountain transforms into a winter paradise
Haiti health system nears collapse as medicine dwindles, gangs attack hospitals and ports stay shut
DPRK top leader attends special concert by Chinese traditional orchestra
China urges citizens to buy new appliances to boost consumer spending — Radio Free Asia
TDSL prepares 27 proposals to share at upcoming two sessions