Kathmandu: Former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump is in court and his long-awaited hush-money trial is now under way in New York. It marks the first time ever that a US president – former or current – has faced a criminal trial.
The trial is expected to last at least six weeks – with the first one or two dedicated to the complicated task of selecting a jury
Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election – which he won.
Daniels claims she and Trump had sex in 2006, and she was then paid by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen to stay quiet about it
Trump is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the reimbursement money he gave Cohen was for legal fees. He faces 34 counts of fraud, but denies any legal wrongdoing – and also denies having an affair with Daniels.
The maximum penalty if Trump is found guilty is four years behind bars, but experts say a much less severe penalty would be more likely.
News Source: BBC