Irish Daily Star

Everything Don the line for ex President

- ■■Christophe­r BUCKTIN

IN THE dingy New York courthouse where John Lennon’s killer pleaded guilty to murder Donald Trump is today set to become the first US President to face a criminal trial.

In a case set to shake the foundation­s of not only American politics but its history too, jury selection will get underway in the businessma­n’s alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Trump is accused of paying off the women who claim they slept with the millionair­e as his wife, Melania, was at home recovering from giving birth to their son.

The landmark legal battle brought by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg thrusts the former US leader and his tumultuous presidency back into the spotlight.

Perhaps most significan­tly, the trial has far-reaching implicatio­ns for presidenti­al accountabi­lity and the integrity of the office.

Accused of orchestrat­ing a scheme to silence two women who claimed to have had affairs with him, Trump will be adjudged by 12 jurors.

Before selection, they will be asked about their knowledge of Trump and their own political persuasion­s.

The trial is expected to last up to 6 weeks. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to try to hide a sexual encounter he is alleged to have had with Daniels, who he met in 2006.

The former President denies the charges and having had sex with her, but if found guilty, he could be jailed for up to five years.

Here, we look at the trial’s major players and what a conviction could bring.

THE ALLEGATION­S AND WHAT’S AT STAKE: and McDougal, as well as former Trump aides Madeline Westerhout and Hope Hicks.

IN THE HOT SEAT: JUDGE

JUAN MERCHAN

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan is poised to take the historic hushmoney prosecutio­n of the former president himself.

Merchan has already imposed a strict gag order against Trump after the businessma­n openly attacked those involved in his trial, leading to death threats being made against him by Trump’s MAGA supporters.

 ?? ?? MODEL: Karen McDougal
PROSECUTIO­N: Bragg
SPEECH: Donald Trump at a rally at weekend, (inset) Stormy Daniels, one of the witnesses
MODEL: Karen McDougal PROSECUTIO­N: Bragg SPEECH: Donald Trump at a rally at weekend, (inset) Stormy Daniels, one of the witnesses
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