Donald Trump’s criminal trial over hush money to begin in New York

Donald Trump ’s criminal hush-money trial involving adult movie actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal is scheduled to start on this morning, with jury selection in Manhattan supreme court.

The criminal case against Trump stems from an alleged scheme to cover up purported liaisons with Daniels and McDougal ahead of the 2016 general election.

Prosecutors say that Trump, who was indicted in spring 2023 on 34 counts of falsifying business records, participated in an alleged “catch-and-kill scheme” from August 2015 until December 2017 through his then lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Cohen, who in 2018 pleaded guilty to federal charges for his involvement in that particular hush money scheme, wired $130,000 to Daniels’ then attorney only 12 days before the election.

The Trump Organization, prosecutors said, processed these checks “disguised as a payment for legal services rendered pursuant to a non-existent retainer agreement”.

In the end AMI, owned by Trump crony David Pecker – did not accept repayment after consulting with their counsel, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said.