(NEXSTAR) – A criminal trial against former President Donald Trump is currently underway in New York City courtroom, with prosecutors and Trump’s defense giving their opening arguments Monday.
Jury selection had taken just four days last week, though the trial itself could last months.
The trial concerns allegations that Trump had falsified business records related to a $130,000 payment made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who said Trump was reimbursing him for a hush-money payment made to adult film actress known as Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. Daniels alleges she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
Trump, who currently faces 34 felony charges for falsifying records, has denied any wrongdoing, and has denied a sexual relationship with Daniels.
The prosecution is expected to call Daniels and Cohen as witnesses, as well as former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who claims she was paid $150,000 to in 2016 by the parent company of the National Enquirer for the rights to her story about an alleged 10-month affair with Trump. Trump denies having sex with McDougal. Hope Hicks, a former White House communications director under Trump, is also expected to take the stand.
David Pecker, a friend of Trump’s and the former publisher of the National Enquirer, took the stand Monday before court adjourned for the day.
Experts have said they expect the trial to end before the final stages of the 2024 presidential election. The New York State Unified Court System, more specifically, says the proceedings should last between six and eight weeks, though that’s only an estimate.
However long it lasts, Trump is required to be in court four days per week (court won’t take place on Wednesdays) forcing his campaign team to schedule many of his in-person appearances on weekends, or even virtually, The Hill previously reported.
Experts speaking with The Hill also said that, in the event Trump is convicted, he would still be able to run for office. It’s unlikely he’d be sentenced to prison, they added, but that still wouldn’t legally prevent him from running for office or being elected.
Aside from the hush-money case, Trump has been indicted in three other inquiries, including a federal case in Washington charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and a federal case in Florida charging him with hoarding classified documents.
The New York prosecution takes on added importance, however, because it is the first case to reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have delayed the other three cases.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
