Former President Donald Trump is set to go on trial this month in Manhattan for his alleged role in a hush money scheme to silence his alleged mistresses before the 2016 election. This trial will be historic as no former US president has ever faced criminal prosecution.
The alleged mistresses involved in the case are a former adult-film actress and a Playboy model, adding a salacious element to the trial. Despite Trump denying any wrongdoing, this trial may or may not be the trial of the century, as he still faces three other criminal trials for more serious crimes such as election interference, conspiracy, and mishandling classified documents.
The trial will shed light on the payments made to the women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump before he ran for president. Karen McDougal, a Playboy model, was paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., for the rights to her story, while the adult-film actress, known as Stormy Daniels, was paid $130,000 by Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
The case has been years in the making, with the Manhattan District Attorney finally presenting the case to a grand jury in April 2023. The trial will be closely watched as it unfolds, with courtroom drama expected and a witness list that includes former Trump aides such as Hope Hicks.
Overall, this trial represents a significant moment in US politics, showcasing a dramatic turn of events for a former president who has reshaped the Republican Party in his own image. Despite the smaller scale of this trial compared to others Trump is facing, it is the first to go to trial and will provide insight into the legal challenges he is currently navigating.