Former President Donald Trump will be in court on Monday for the start of a highly anticipated criminal trial in New York revolving around alleged hush money payments made ahead of the 2016 election.
Here are the essential details to watch as the trial unfolds.
What Happened: After failing to get the trial postponed, Monday marks the beginning of what is expected to be a six-to-eight-week trial.
This event marks the first criminal trial for a former U.S. president, and is the first of four scheduled criminal trials against Trump. This may be the only one of the four trials to proceed before the 2024 presidential election, where Trump is seeking re-election.
Jury selection begins Monday, April 15, a process that could take days or weeks.
Trump is required by law to attend the full trial during the multi-week process.
The New York District Attorney's office will try to convince jurors that Trump and his team knowingly paid "hush money" to former adult actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump's team has argued that the charges are a continued "witch hunt" with multiple agencies bringing criminal charges against the former president in the backdrop of the 2024 election campaign.
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has testified that he made the payments on behalf of his client. Cohen is expected to be a key witness during the trial.
Daniels is also expected to testify in the trial, which could provide insight into an alleged relationship Trump has denied.
Trump said on Friday that he is willing to testify in the trial.
"All I can do is tell the truth, and the truth is that there's no case," Trump said.
Related Link: Stormy Daniels’ Former Lawyer Michael Avenatti Gives Prison Interview Ahead Of Hush Money Trial: Trump ‘Will Be Convicted’
What's Next: Trump has pleaded not guilty ahead of the trial. The former president faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison for each charge. Judge Juan Merchan could have discretion over sentencing Trump to serve the sentences concurrently or one after another.
One of the most anticipated aspects of the trial is the possibility of a jail sentence for the former president, which could pose significant logistical challenges due to its unprecedented nature. Determining when Trump would serve his potential jail time if convicted presents a complex dilemma.
As a frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, Trump’s potential jail time could be postponed if he is re-elected as president of the United States.
Benzinga previously shared that there is no rule preventing a person to campaign for the presidency or to serve as president while serving time in jail.
The trial will take place over the next six to eight weeks with Trump needing to attend in person every day. Trump will do campaigning for the 2024 presidential election on nights, weekends and Wednesdays, when the trial will not be active.
Trump has been known to utilize media presence at trials as a sounding board to share his thoughts on the trial and his campaign. The former president could potentially use media interviews at the trial as a way to campaign for the election without having to leave New York.
Merchan previously imposed a gag order on Trump that bars him from speaking about the judge, jurors, prosecutors or witnesses in the trial. Trump faces fines and potential jail time if he breaks the gag order.
Along with the hush money trial, Trump faces criminal charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia and over classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. None of these trials are currently expected to begin ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
During the trial, shares of Trump Media & Technology Group DJT could remain volatile as they have during the 2024 election cycle. Benzinga previously reported that part of the SPAC agreement to take Trump's media company public involved a provision that the former president would retain control even if serving time in jail.
DJT Price Action: Trump Media & Technology Group shares are down 12% to $28.50 on Monday, continuing a drop since the SPAC merger with was completed.
Image generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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