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7 months ago
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Donald Trump left his Manhattan home on Monday morning and headed to court to hear opening statements in the historic hush money trial after tearing into pro-Palestinian protesters.
The former president could also be confronted with the prosecutors' first witness, former National Enquirer publisher and friend David Pecker.
The 77-year-old waved and raised his fist to photographers and onlookers as he walked across the sidewalk from Trump Tower and got into his waiting SUV.
Speaking on his way into court he said it was a 'very sad day in America' and the trial was 'very unfair'. He added that his poll numbers were 'very good.'
Trump said: 'This is a witch hunt and it's a shame. And it comes out of Washington. It's in coordination with Washington.
'I just want people to understand that this is for purposes of hurting the opponent of the worst president in the history of our country. It's a very, very sad day in America.'
Donald Trump left his Manhattan home on Monday morning and headed to court to hear opening statements in the historic hush money trial
On Monday morning he also took to Truth Social to post 'witch hunt' and 'election interference' to slam the Stormy Daniels case he says is a political prosecution.
He also asked why pro-Palestinian demonstrators were allowed to 'roam cities' and 'block traffic' while his supporters weren't allowed to protest outside court.
He issued a rallying cry to his MAGA faithful and told them to march 'across the country'.
An NYU law professor believes that Pecker will provide 'dynamite evidence' against Donald Trump when he takes the stand on Monday morning.
It was revealed over the weekend in a New York Times report that Pecker would be the first witness called against the ex-president during his historic trial in Manhattan over allegations he participated in a hush money scheme ahead of the 2016 election.
'Pecker could be key witness - in ways more devastating than Michael Cohen .This also indicates DA is foregrounding unlawful election influence for jurors,' Professor Ron Goodman tweeted.
'Pecker's testimony should be strong proof of core allegation that the hush money scheme was geared toward influencing the outcome of the presidential election,' he added.
A 12-person jury in Manhattan is set to hear opening statements from prosecutors and defense lawyers in the first of four criminal cases against the presumptive Republican nominee to reach trial.
The statements are expected to give jurors and the voting public the clearest view yet of the allegations at the heart of the case, as well as insight into Trump's expected defense.
The 77-year-old waved and raised his fist to photographers and onlookers as he walked across the sidewalk from Trump Tower and got into his waiting SUV
On Monday morning he took to Truth Social to post 'witch hunt' and 'election interference' to slam the Stormy Daniels case he says is a political prosecution
The former president could also be confronted with the prosecutors first witness, former National Enquirer publisher and friend David Pecker
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and could face four years in prison if convicted, though it´s not clear if the judge would seek to put him behind bars.
A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to attempt to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
In 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported that Pecker attended a meeting at Trump Tower in August 2015 where Trump asked him: 'What can you do to help my campaign?'
In the indictment, it says that Pecker agreed to help the campaign by becoming 'eyes and ears,' staying alert for any negative stories about Trump.
English (US)