Understanding the Trump Trial

Yesterday's News: April 16th

TL;DR: Breaking down the details around the Trump Hush Money Trial. Read to learn about the charges, the timeline of the alleged scheme, and the day 1 summary. Other stories include protests and the House GOP effort to put forth separate aid bills for Israel and Ukraine.

Breaking Down the Details of the Trump Hush Money Case

Charges Laid Out: Donald J. Trump is charged under New York Penal Law §175.10 with 34 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. This law targets the deliberate alteration of business records with the intent to defraud.

Details of the Alleged Schemes

The below details are as listed in the Indictment and the Statement of Facts. Also, read DA Bragg’s detailed summary of the case here.

Catch and Kill Scheme to Suppress Negative Information

Strategy: Trump and associates aimed to suppress negative stories about him to boost his electoral prospects.

Execution: Involved payments to individuals with potentially damaging information and agreements to prevent them from going public with their stories.

Specific Incidents

American Media Inc. (AMI) Payment to Trump Tower Doorman: This $30,000 payment took place during the period leading up to the 2016 Presidential election but the exact date is not specified in the information provided.

AMI Payment to a Woman Alleging a Sexual Relationship with Trump: This payment of $150,000 also occurred during the 2016 election period, specifically around the time Trump was running for president. Again, the exact date is not specified in the provided excerpt.

Payment to the Attorney of an Adult Film Actress: This payment of $130,000 was made 12 days before the presidential general election in 2016. Given that the election was on November 8, 2016, this payment would have been made around October 27, 2016.

Post-Election Activities

Reimbursements: After Trump's election, payments were made to cover up the pre-election expenses and maintain the confidentiality agreed upon with the involved parties.

Falsification of Business Records

Methods: After the election, false entries were made in business records to show the above-listed payments as legal expenses under non-existent retainer agreements.

Execution: Involved multiple entities and individuals within Trump's business operations, creating a systematic approach to disguise the true nature of the payments.

Day 1 of the Trial

Jury Selection Process

Initial Screening: Out of 96 potential jurors, more than half were dismissed due to their inability to be impartial, showcasing the challenge of forming a jury for such a high-profile case.

Questionnaire Vetting: The jurors faced a rigorous vetting process, including a detailed questionnaire designed to filter out any significant biases, particularly political ones. This process is crucial given the polarizing nature of the case and Trump himself.

Evidence and Rulings: Preliminary discussions on what evidence would be permissible were pivotal. Trump scored a win with the exclusion of potentially prejudicial evidence, such as the "Access Hollywood" tape.

What to Expect Next

Jury Selection Continues: The Jury selection process is expected to take approximately 2 weeks. Given the high profile nature of the case and implications, don’t be surprised if this process takes longer than expected.

Opening Statements: Once the jury is set, both sides will present their opening statements, outlining their cases in detail.

Evidence Presentation: The bulk of the trial will involve the presentation of evidence, including documents and testimonies from key witnesses. This phase will be crucial for both the prosecution's case and Trump’s defense.

Read More

Extra Stories

Pro-Palestine Protests Pop Up in Many Major Cities

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators significantly disrupted traffic across major U.S. cities by blocking key transportation routes including the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridges, and roads leading to O'Hare International Airport. In Chicago, activists halted traffic on Interstate 190 early in the morning, advocating for an "economic blockade to free Palestine" and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Similar protests occurred in San Francisco, New York, Oregon, and near Seattle, leading to hundreds of arrests due to unlawful assembly and obstruction. Despite the disruptions, affected locations like O'Hare reported minimal operational impacts with traffic resuming a few hours after protests began.

U.S. House to Consider Separate Aid Bills for Israel and Ukraine

The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, is set to deliberate separate aid packages for Israel and Ukraine, diverging from a combined $95 billion aid bill previously passed by the Senate. The decision to split the bills reflects the House's strategic focus on addressing specific geopolitical challenges. The legislative agenda includes four bills, encompassing aid for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies, alongside the immediate concerns for Israel and Ukraine due to recent regional conflicts and security threats. Votes on these bills are anticipated by week's end following a mandated 72-hour review of the proposed legislative texts.

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