The first criminal trial of a former American president opened Monday in New York City. Donald J. Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records. Trump also is considered the likely Republican Party nominee for president in November’s general elections in the United States. Jury selection is the first step in the trial process. Over the coming days, the defense and the prosecution will consider possible jury candidates. The final group will number 12 jurors and six possible substitutes, or alternates. Trump is accused of hiding a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels just ahead of the 2016 election. Prosecutors say the money was provided in exchange for her silence about a reported sexual interaction between them years earlier. The indictment also alleges that model and actor Karen McDougal had a months-long relationship with Trump while he was married. She says a newspaper publisher paid $150,000 for the rights to her story but did not publish it, reportedly at Trump’s request. The charges also involve a payment to a Trump Tower employee. The doorman reported to know of a child Trump had fathered outside his marriage. Trump has denied all of the charges and any involvement in sexual relationships outside his marriage.
