A defiant Donald Trump made history as the first former president to face a criminal trial when he arrived in court Monday for jury selection in the Manhattan hush money case.
The former president, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels for their alleged affair.
Each charge he has strenuously denied carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but if convicted he could face a fine or probation as a first-time offender.
Trump’s day started badly when Judge Juan Merchán rejected a request from his legal team to recuse himself and stated that the former president was using a “series of baseless inferences, insinuations and speculations.”
He rejected suggestions that his daughter’s posts on X should cause him to recuse himself because it was not his account and did not affect his ability to oversee the proceedings.
Merchan also said he was not ready to say whether the high-profile defendant would be able to attend his 18-year-old son Barron’s high school graduation on May 17, which falls in the middle of the case.
A defiant Donald Trump made history as the first former president to appear in a criminal trial when he arrived in court Monday for jury selection in the Manhattan hush money case.
The judge said: “If everything goes as planned, I am sure we will be able to adjourn for one or both days.” But if we delay we won’t be able to do it.”
As the judge spoke, Trump crossed his arms and seemed unimpressed.
Trump entered the court wearing a dark blue suit and red tie after telling reporters that the case was “scandalous” and an “assault on America.”
‘This is a chase like never before. “It’s an assault on the United States and that’s why I’m very proud to be here,” he said.
He then sat at his desk with his attorney with his hands clasped on the desk.
Trump entered behind his lead attorney, Todd Blanche, paused for a split second, licked his lips and then began walking down the center aisle of the courtroom.
‘Good morning, Mr. Trump,’ Judge Juan Merchán said cordially as he officially called the case and invited the lawyers to appear.
Trump has frequently criticized Merchan and prompted a gag order after criticizing his daughter’s ties to the Democratic Party.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee appeared defiant as he emerged from Trump Tower on Monday morning and waved to waiting fans and photographers as he boarded his motorcade.
Before leaving, he ranted on his social media platform, Truth Social, about the “rigged” case and the “corruption” charge.
Trump entered the court wearing a dark blue suit and red tie after telling reporters that the case was “scandalous” and an “assault on America.”
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee sat at the defense table next to her husband’s attorney, Todd Blanche, with their hands clasped.
‘When I walk into that courtroom, I know I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me and I WILL FIGHT for the FREEDOM of 325 MILLION AMERICANS!’ he wrote.
Trump and his team of lawyers claim that the prosecution is political and that the trial is a “witch hunt” aimed at preventing him from running for president again.
The courthouse was surrounded by protesters and photographers as it made the four-mile trip downtown to 100 Center Street.
Lawyers for both sides now have the arduous task of choosing a panel of 12 impartial jurors from a pool of hundreds of Manhattan residents.
Experts believe the selection process could take between five days and two weeks.
The trial itself, which will last six to eight weeks, will be filled with explosive testimony and drama that is the result of years of scandal.
Trump’s day started badly, as Judge Juan Merchán rejected a request from his legal team to recuse himself.
Judge Merchan also said he was not ready to say whether the high-profile defendant would be able to attend his 18-year-old son Barron’s high school graduation on May 17, which falls in the middle of the case.
The former president, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels for their alleged affair.
Lawyers for both sides now have the arduous task of choosing a panel of 12 impartial jurors from a pool of hundreds of Manhattan residents.
Trump told reporters that the case was “outrageous” and that “this is a persecution like no one has ever seen before.”
The former president, 77, faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment he made to Stormy Daniels for an alleged affair.
Trump enters the Criminal Courthouse in midtown Manhattan with attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove and greets the gathered crowd.
Trump and his team of lawyers claim that the prosecution is political and that the trial is a “witch hunt” aimed at preventing him from running for president again.
Witnesses will testify about lurid allegations of hotel suite encounters, blockbuster television interviews and secret deals involving the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
The case revolves around a payment made to Daniels by then-Trump fixer Michel Cohen before 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 around every corner, as Trump has spent four years in the White House and is now in the midst of running for another term.
Journalists and the public had to pass through two airport-like security checkpoints before being allowed into the overflow courtroom to watch jury selection; the main room must have been full of potential jurors.
The second set of security measures involved a fingertip search of the bags and any glass bottles or containers were removed.
The court was surrounded by barricades and a heavy police presence when the former president entered the courtroom.
The courthouse was surrounded by protesters and photographers as Trump’s motorcade made the four-mile trip from downtown to 100 Center Street.
Camera and media equipment set up outside the courthouse on the first day of Stormy Daniels’ money trial.
Anti-Trump protesters with large signs stand outside the Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Center Street in New York City on Monday awaiting the former president’s arrival.
A Trump supporter holds a flag supporting the former president’s re-election outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday before his arrival.
No one was allowed to leave the courtroom when Trump reached the 15th floor. One member of the public protested that he could not leave, got into a verbal altercation with court staff and asked one of their names.
The additional room had three large televisions broadcasting a live feed from the main courtroom. The trial is not televised to the general public.
Television screens showed the table where Trump and his lawyers would sit, the prosecutor’s table and the judge.
The jury could not avoid identifying them.