While a jury is being sought for the trial against Donald Trump, the public prosecutor's office is already demanding detention. The news ticker.
Update from April 17, 6:10 a.m.:
Former US President Donald Trump described the process in New York as “interference in the election” controlled by the White House. After the second day of the trial, Trump visited the Harlem neighborhood, where his supporters were waiting for him, chanting "Four more years." The ex-president published recordings of his visit to Harlem on his network Truth Social. There, Trump told reporters at the scene: "The whole world is watching the justice system in New York right now and it's truly election interference at the highest level. It all comes from Washington.” He added that polls show Biden is currently losing.
Trump boasts: “Stormed out of Biden’s sham court!”
Update from April 16th, 10:37 p.m.:
Apparently Donald Trump's campaign team sent out a fundraising appeal during the trial in New York in which the former US President boasted that he "stormed out" of the courtroom on Monday. “I STORMED OUT OF BIDEN’S MAKE COURT YESTERDAY! What I was forced to endure would make any patriotic American sick,”
Newsweek
quoted the email as saying.
In fact, the ex-president did not storm out of the New York courtroom during the first day of the trial against Trump. However, he would definitely be capable of such an action; Among other things, Trump temporarily left the premises during his civil fraud trial in October and January. The email asked Trump's supporters to continue donating to the Republican's campaign to get him "through these DARK DAYS."
Hush money trial
against
Trump
: half of the jury is in place
Update from April 16, 10:20 p.m.:
In the hush money trial against Donald Trump, the public prosecutor's office, the ex-president's defense and Judge Juan Merchan have now been able to agree on six jurors. The search for a total of six more could take several days. Jurors selected in Trump's trial include, according to the
Associated Press
: an IT worker, an English teacher, an oncology nurse, a sales representative, a software engineer and a corporate lawyer. In addition to the remaining six jurors, six alternates are also needed.
Trump trial: Lawyer points to 'hostile' Facebook posts from potential jurors
Update from April 16, 9:25 p.m.:
Another potential juror is out of the running in the trial against Trump: According to US media reports, the man shared posts with the words “Lock him up” on social media – Judge Juan Merchan, however, saw this as a clear bias against Donald Trump.
A few minutes later, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche spun the narrative of widespread anti-Trump posts within the group of potential jurors. A juror who once campaigned for a Democratic vote on social media refused to explain his political views to the court.
Update from April 16, 8:45 p.m.:
After the lunch break, Donald Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche
began shedding light on past social media posts from potential jurors, according to a
Newsweek
report. Blanche referred to “hostile” Facebook posts from a jury in which she appears to be celebrating the result of the 2020 US election – Trump lost to his Democratic successor Joe Biden.
The potential jury member then explained after she was invited into the courtroom that there was a certain amount of “bias,” but that she was confident that she could act fairly and impartially. A moment earlier, Trump is said to have loudly gestured towards the woman. Judge Merchan stressed that he would not tolerate such behavior; Trump should under no circumstances intimidate witnesses or potential jurors.
District attorney calls for Trump to be detained
Update from April 16, 5:54 p.m.:
After Trump's comments on social media, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called for the "maximum penalty." According to the public prosecutor's office, the ex-president repeatedly violated the news blackout (or "gag order") imposed by Judge Juan Merchan in the trial against Trump. But that's not all: According to US media, the public prosecutor's office has now also suggested that Trump be punished with 30 days in prison for further violations. However, this option will not be discussed until next Tuesday (April 23).
Trump shoots against Biden: “Comes from the White House”
Update from April 16, 4:33 p.m.:
On the second day of the hush money trial against Donald Trump, the search for a jury continues. First, according to
Newsweek,
one juror was
dismissed because of flu-like symptoms; Another potential juror stated that he could not act impartially because he was close to the Republicans for professional reasons.
The former president, however, briefly addressed the press before the start of the day as he entered the courthouse in Manhattan. “This is a process that should never have been carried out,” Trump told media representatives – and shot once again against his successor: “This is coming from the Biden White House, the voters understand that, you just have to look at the polls.” .
Trump trial: “Trump-hating judge won’t let me respond to people”
Update from April 16, 3:25 p.m.:
The second day of the trial against Donald Trump will start in a few minutes (3:30 p.m. CET). Shortly before the negotiations continued in New York, the defendant once again tested on Truth Social how far he could go with his verbal attacks on state officials. “This […] Trump-hating judge won’t let me respond to people who lie and spread hate on TV all day,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
Today's trial will show whether Judge Juan Merchan sees this as a violation of the so-called "gag order" that he imposed on Trump. On the first day of the trial, Merchan threatened Trump with detention and exclusion from proceedings if he did not stop his attacks on the judge, prosecutor and witnesses.
Second day of
negotiations
in
New York
Update from April 16, 1:25 p.m.:
On the second day of the trial against Donald Trump, his lawyer Todd Blanche will also be at the center of the events. According to US media reports, his behavior on the first day of the trial attracted the judge's displeasure. Juan Mercan had to ask Trump's lawyer several times to sit down again and not to interrupt anyone.
Trial against Trump: Jury selection in the hush money trial is in focus
Update from April 16, 10:05 a.m.:
The trial against Donald Trump continues this Tuesday. The focus is on the selection of the twelve jurors (including six alternates). According to information from
CNN
, around 500 candidates will be examined and ultimately only “impartial” people will be selected - a real challenge, considering that Trump, the most famous person in the world, is in the dock.
Trump in court: “Sleepy Don” falls asleep during the trial
Update from April 16, 8:14 a.m.:
Was the first day of the trial in New York too much for Donald Trump? In any case, the former US President clearly found it difficult to follow the proceedings. Once he even fell asleep gently. “Trump appears to be sleeping,” reported Maggie Haberman for the
New York Times
. “His head keeps drooping and his mouth goes slack.” And then Trump had a new name on social media: “Sleepy Don.” Trump himself is known for coming up with derogatory nicknames, such as “Sleepy Joe” for US President Joe Biden.
Trial against Donald Trump: Judge a “real problem” for former president
Update from April 16, 5:00 a.m.:
Donald Trump says he has a “real problem” with the judge who is hearing his criminal trial in New York. “We are not going to get a fair trial,” Trump said at the end of the first day of the trial. Trump also criticized Judge Juan Merchan for denying his request to attend a Supreme Court hearing next week. “Of course the judge won’t allow us to do that,” said Trump. He called the case, brought by Manhattan's top prosecutor, Democrat Alvin Bragg, a "political witch hunt."
Trump trial in New York: search for jury continues
Update from April 15th, 10:10 p.m.:
The court is currently looking for a jury for the hush money trial against Donald Trump. As US media report, 50 of the 96 eligible jurors have now been dismissed after they declared that they could not vote fairly and impartially. Another nine were fired after they refused to perform jury duty for unknown reasons.
Trial against Trump: Sanctions after “muzzle violations” – arguments sought for a fine
Update from April 15th, 8:28 p.m.:
In the hush money trial against Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan is now listening to the arguments for a small fine for the ex-president after he is said to have disregarded his judicially ordered "muzzle" several times. The public prosecutor's office had previously demanded a fine of $1,000 in each of three cases.
Trump trial in New York: Prosecutor demands fine after “muzzle” violations
Update from April 15, 7:08 p.m.:
After Donald Trump confirmed to judge Juan Merchan that he had understood the rights he had read out to him, the public prosecutor's office filed an application for sanctions against the ex-president. The reason: Trump violated the “muzzle” that had been imposed on him on social media several times.
Hush money trial against Trump: Decision made about Access Hollywood tape
Update from April 15, 5:49 p.m.:
Before the court had just taken a break, Judge Juan Merchan reiterated his earlier decision that the prosecution would not be allowed to play the infamous Access Hollywood tape during the trial. The recording is a recording that appeared shortly before the 2016 US election and got then-candidate Donald Trump into trouble. Among other things, he talked about touching women inappropriately. Critics accused the future president of abuse of power and sexual assault. Trump's followers, however, defended the statements as "locker room talk".
Donald Trump speaks of “attack on America” in New York
Update from April 15th, 4:23 p.m.:
Donald Trump has arrived at the court in New York. Before the ex-president entered the building, he addressed the press who were also present. Trump called the charges against him an “attack on America.” He is “proud to be here and defend our country.” Numerous US broadcasters broadcast Trump's arrival at the New York court live, including
CNN
and
Fox News
.
Update from April 15th, 12:25 p.m.:
Donald Trump also spoke out via Truth Social on the day the trial began. The ex-president accused the Democrats of election fraud. All the lawsuits have the sole aim of “forcing Trump to sit in courtrooms and spend money that could be used for the election campaign.” In fact, Trump will have to spend a lot of time in court in the coming weeks. The criminal procedure in New York requires the defendant to be present every day of the trial.
Donald Trump is on trial in New York
First report from April 15, 2024:
New York - A historic event is coming up in the USA: This Monday (April 15), Donald Trump will be the first former president of the country to find himself as a defendant in a criminal trial. The 77-year-old is accused in his hometown of New York in connection with hush money payments to the erotic actress Stephanie Clifford, better known by her stage name Stormy Daniels. In order to conceal the payments, Trump is said to have falsified business documents and also violated campaign finance laws. Trump himself has pleaded not guilty.
The process takes observers in the USA and beyond back to 2016. Then as now, Donald Trump was the Republican candidate for the upcoming US election. In the middle of the election campaign, he didn't need news of an affair with a porn star while his wife Melania Trump was heavily pregnant with their first child. So Trump instructed his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to buy Daniels' silence for $130,000.
Donald Trump has to prepare for a lengthy trial in New York
According to the responsible court in New York City, it could take up to eight weeks before a verdict against Trump is announced. There is even a possibility of a prison sentence of several years, which could also be suspended. The trial will begin on Monday with the selection of jury members. A total of 34 charges are being negotiated.
Before the verdict comes, Trump will have to endure a few more or less unpleasant encounters in the New York courtroom. Numerous former companions of the Republican candidate are likely to be invited to give their statements. These include, among others:
Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen as witnesses against Donald Trump
The most juicy witnesses expected in the trial against Donald Trump
Michael Cohen
: Above all, the former cleaner and lawyer for Donald Trump. Michael Cohen is at the center of the accusation against Trump. He is said to have paid the money to Stormy Daniels and was directly compensated for it himself.
Stormy Daniels
: The adult film actress got the whole Trump case rolling when she went public in 2016. Her testimony against Donald Trump is eagerly awaited.
David Pecker
: The former executive director of the National Enquirer magazine is said to be a master of "catch and kill" - a technique used by media and journalists to prevent the publication of information that may be harmful to third parties. Pecker is said to have used this technique to keep several stories about Trump's affairs secret.
Hope Hicks
: Hope Hicks, now 35 years old, was the press secretary for Donald Trump's presidential campaign at the time. According to
Politico
magazine
, the New York prosecutor's office plans to subpoena them too.
Bradley Smith
: The law professor could become the most important witness for the defense in the case against Donald Trump. Their goal will be to convince jurors that Trump may have had an affair but that he did not violate campaign finance laws.
Karen McDougal
: Karen McDougal could also be subpoenaed. The now 35-year-old former Playboy model had an affair with Donald Trump between 2006 and 2007. According to Cohen, she also received hush money of around $150,000.
Dino Sajudin
: The former doorman of Trump Tower in New York is said to have received $30,000 from David Pecker as hush money to cover up Trump's alleged affair with an employee, the result of which is said to be the billionaire's illegitimate child. Sajudin described the allegations in a book called “Trump’s Bouncer,” which was published in 2021.
Donald Trump attacks judges in New York
Donald Trump himself denies all allegations. A few hours before the trial began, the prospective Republican candidate for the 2024 US election attacked the judge in charge, Juan Merchan. In a message on his social media platform, Trump called for the trial to be postponed again. The judge “gave us only a short period of time to read and study hundreds of thousands of pages of documents that prosecutor Alvin Bragg illegally hid, concealed and withheld from us,” said Trump, who sees one thing above all in the trial: “ This is a blatant and unprecedented attack on the political opponent of the corrupt Joe Biden.”
A few days ago, this political opponent addressed his supporters in an email. There, Trump threatened that “all hell would break loose” when the trial began this Monday. He therefore needs help “to save America”. This help comes most practically in the form of money, specifically donations to the Trump campaign team.
Test your
knowledge
of
US politics
Donald Trump can put the money to good use. The former reality TV star has already been sentenced to more than $500 million in fines in recent months. To make matters worse, his competitor Biden also made up ground in the current polls for the 2024 US election.
(talk to agencies)