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7 months ago
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A defiant Donald Trump made history as the first former president to stand in a criminal trial as he arrived in court on Monday for jury selection in the Manhattan hush-money case.
The former president, 77, is facing 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels over an alleged affair.
Each count he has strenuously denied carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but if found guilty he could face a fine or probation as a first-time offender.
Trump walked into court wearing a dark blue suit and a red tie after telling reporters the case was 'outrageous' and an 'assault on America'.
'This is a persecution like never before. It is an assault on America and that’s why I'm very proud to be here,' he said.
A defiant Donald Trump made history as the first former president to stand in a criminal trial as he arrived in court on Monday for jury selection in the Manhattan hush-money case
He then sat at his desk with his lawyer with his hands together on the desk.
Trump entered behind his lead attorney Todd Blanche, paused for a split second, licked his lips, then began walking up the courtroom's center aisle.
The presumptive Republican nominee for president looked defiant as he left Trump Tower on Monday morning and waved to waiting fans and photographers as he got into his motorcade.
Before he departed he went on a rant on his social media platform, Truth Social, about the 'rigged' case and the 'corrupt' charge.
Trump walked into court wearing a dark blue suit and a red tie after telling reporters the case was 'outrageous' and an 'assault on America'
The presumptive Republican nominee for president sat at the defense table next to hus attorney Todd Blanche with his hands clasped
'When I walk into that courtroom, I know I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me, and I will be FIGHTING for the FREEDOM of 325 MILLION AMERICANS!' he wrote.
Trump and his team of lawyers claim the prosecution is political and the trial is a 'witch hunt' meant to stop him running for president again.
The court was surrounded by protesters and photographers as he made the four-mile journey downtown to 100 Centre Street.
Attorneys from both sides now have the arduous task of picking a panel of 12 impartial jurors from a pool of hundreds of Manhattan residents.
Experts believe the selection process could last anywhere between five days and two weeks.
The trial itself - set to last between six and eight weeks - will be full of bombshell testimony and drama that are the results of years of scandal.
The trial over claims the former president, 77, falsified records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels was due to begin on March 25, but will now start on April 15
Trump told reporters the case was 'outrageous' and 'this is a persecution like never before nobody's ever seen'
The former president, 77, is facing 34 charges of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment he made to Stormy Daniels over an alleged affair
Trump walks into the downtown Manhattan Criminal Court with attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove and waves at the gathered crowds
Trump and his team of lawyers claim the prosecution is political and the trial is a 'witch hunt' meant to stop him running for president again
Witnesses will testify about lurid allegations of hotel suite encounters, blockbuster TV interviews and backroom deals involving the presumptive Republican nominee for president.
The case revolves around the payment made to Daniels by Trump's then-fixer Michel Cohen ahead of the 2016 presidential election to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
She claims it occurred less than four months after Melania Trump gave birth to the couple's son , Barron.
Since then there have been legal twists and turns at every corner, while Trump has spent four years in the White House and is now in the middle of bid for another term.
Journalists and members of the public had to go through two sets of airport style security before they could get into the overflow courtroom to watch jury selection - the main courtroom was to be full of potential jurors.
The second set of security involved a fingertip bag search and all glass bottles or containers were removed.
The court was surrounded by barricades and a heavy police presence as the former president entered the courtroom
The court was surrounded by protesters and photographers as Trump's motorcade made the four-mile journey downtown to 100 Centre Street
Camera crews and media set up outside the court house on Day One of the Stormy Daniels hush money trial
Anti-Trump demonstrators with large banners stand outside the Manhattan Criminal Court House at 100 Centre Street in New York City on Monday awaiting the former president's arrival
A Trump supporter holds a flag backing the former president's reelection outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Monday ahead of his arrival
Nobody was allowed to leave the courtroom when Trump arrived on the 15th floor. One member of the public protested that he couldn't leave, had a verbal altercation with court staff and asked for one of their names.
The overflow room had three large TVs beaming a live stream from the main courtroom. The trial is not televised to the wider public.
The TV screens showed the table where Trump and his lawyers would be seated, the prosecution table and the judge.
The jury was not shown to avoid identifying them.
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