Donald Trump trial LIVE: Michael Cohen says ex-president 'stinks of desperation' after claiming he had 'nothing to do with' his crimes that landed him in jail
By Daniel Bates In New York For Dailymail.Com and Rob Crilly, Senior Political Reporter In New York For For Dailymail.Com and Nick Allen For Dailymail.com and Jon Michael Raasch For Dailymail.Com
Published: | Updated:
Donald Trump's historic hush money trial in Manhattan kicked off with opening statements and could end with testimony from the first witness.
Prosecutors laid out what the former president's 'scheme to corrupt the 2016 election' with 'catch and kill' plots.
Trump's legal team then insisted there was 'nothing wrong' with trying to influence an election and criticized the credibility of Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker also took the stand before the court adjourned early so a juror could go to the dentist.
Follow DailyMail.com's live coverage from reporters inside the New York courtroom.
This live blog has now closed.
Michael Cohen slaps back at Trump's claims his crimes have nothing to do with him
Michael Cohen has slapped back at Donald Trump's claims that his crimes had 'nothing to do with him'.
The former president spoke to reporters about his former fixer as he left court following opening statements in the hush money trial.
'He got in trouble, he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me,' said Trump. 'This had to do with the taxicab company that he owed, which is just something he owned — and medallions and borrowing money'.
Cohen hit back with a very colorful response on social media.
He posted on X: 'Hey Von S***InPantz … your attacks of me stink of desperation. We are all hoping that you take the stand in your defense'.
Cohen served a stint in federal prison for breaking campaign finance lawyers by facilitating the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about the alleged affair.
The former lawyer was also sentenced for tax evasion related to a taxi medallion enterprise.
Cohen is expected to be the prosecution's star witness in the hush money trial.
But Trump's legal team called him a liar during opening statements and questioned his credibility.
Prosecutors tease bombshell phone call between Trump and Michael Cohen about Karen McDougal's 'affair' claims that led to a $150,000 payment to 'silence' the Playboy model
Prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial said Monday that they will play the September 2016 phone call between Trump and Michael Cohen in which they discuss paying off Playboy model Karen McDougal over affair allegations.
Cohen secretly recorded a conversation with his-then boss and the two-minute recording was unearthed during the FBI's June 2018 raid of his home, with its existence first reported by CBS that July.
Now it's primed to become a major moment in Trump's hush money trial.
'You'll hear the defendant in his own voice, ask what are we going to pay for this? 150?' prosecutor Matthew Colangelo teased during opening statements. 'You'll hear him in his own voice suggest paying in cash.'
Colangelo reminded the jury that this deal was arranged six weeks before the 2016 presidential election, as prosecutors argued that Trump orchestrated a criminal plot to 'corrupt' the election and then tried to cover it up.
Trump shook his head in defiance while the spellbound jury locked eyes on the prosecutor: A gripping account from inside court
From Rob Crilly, Senior Political Reporter at Manhattan Criminal Court for DailyMail.com:
The 12 members of the jury and their six alternates sat rapt with attention. For 45 minutes they listened to the lead prosecutor lay out the case against former President Donald Trump.
Matthew Colangelo delivered all the drama of a B-movie plot as he took them on a wild ride from a shady Trump Tower 'catch and kill' meeting to the extraordinary image of President Trump paying a loyal fixer by signing checks inside the White House, with a cast that included muckraking journalists, a now-disbarred lawyer who recorded his phone calls and a porn star.
Only one person inside courtroom 1530 looked unimpressed: The star of the show.
Trump leaned back in his chair, shoulders slumped at times. He did not look once at the jury as the case against him was laid out.
You did not need to be a body language expert to read 'nothing to see here' in his posture.
READ MORE BELOW
Donald Trump poised to receive $1.25 BILLION in Trump Media stock bonus Monday after DJT shares maintain momentum
As Trump Media stock continues to defy expectations, former President Donald Trump could be in for a billion-dollar payday.
If Trump Media - which owns the former president's Truth Social app - closes the day above $17.50 on Monday, Trump will receive an additional 36 million shares as an 'earnout' bonus.
Based on the $35 price per share which the company was trading around Monday afternoon, that bonus would be worth a whopping $1.25 billion.
Those 36 million shares would be in addition to the nearly 79 million shares the former president already owns.
In total, Donald Trump's shares of Trump Media could reach up to $4.2 billion by the end of Monday.
The earnout bonus was a part of the deal between Digital World Acquisition Corporation and Trump Media before the two companies merged in January.
However, the former president is barred from selling his shares until at least six months after the merger's closing date.
How Trump and Michael Cohen were shown National Enquirer stories about 'Ted Cruz's infidelity and his 'links' to the JFK assassination' BEFORE they went to print: Prosecutors lay out 'deals' with publisher David Pecker
Prosecutors in Donald Trump's Stormy Daniels trial used opening arguments to describe a hand-in-glove relationship between the former president and ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker while the paper unleashed attacks on Trump's 2016 opponents.
It was a partnership that shaped bombshell tabloid stories from the 2016 campaign, including an Enquirer piece claiming Ted Cruz had five mistresses and another thinly sourced story linking his dad Rafael to Lee Harvey Oswald and the John F. Kennedy assassination
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo described the activities of Pecker during remarks that that sketched out an alleged 'criminal conspiracy and a cover-up' involving Trump, former fixer Michael Cohen, and Pecker, the former AMI media exec.
It was a relationship consisting of two key elements: Efforts to 'catch and kill' stories that could harm Trump, while blasting out headlines that could hurt his opponents, prosecutors said.
'It's called democracy': Trump's attorney rejects claims hush payments were made to help win the 2016 election, blasts 'obsessed' Michael Cohen and claims Stormy Daniels made up the affair
Former President Donald Trump's attorney rejected claims by the prosecution in his criminal hush money case that payments to pornstar Stormy Daniels were made to help him win the 2016 election.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche also made the case that Trump, being a 'frugal' penny pincher, would never have overpaid his 'obsessed' personal attorney Michael Cohen and attempted to discredit Daniels, saying she fabricated their affair.
Opening statements kicked off Monday morning in the bombshell case that's sure to expose Trump's secrets.
In his opening plea to the 12-person jury, Blanche insisted that Trump is 'innocent' and never committed any crimes in a case that should never have been brought in the first place.
Blanche said that Trump was somebody who was 'larger than life' who was likely known to the jury who had seen him on television.
'But he's also here in this courtroom doing what any of us would do, defending himself,' Blanche said.
Blanche said he was going to refer to Trump as 'President Trump' as it was 'title he has earned because he was our 45th president.'
Trump insists the trial is going 'very well' and insists his payment to Michael Cohen was a legal expense
A defiant Donald Trump left the Manhattan court on Monday morning insisting the trial was going 'very well'.
The former president claimed he was indicted over 'bookkeeping' and a 'very minor thing' compared to the 'violent crime going on outside'.
He then went after Michael Cohen by saying the things his fixer 'went to jail for' had 'nothing to do with me'.
'It's very unfair what's going on and I should be allowed to campaign,' he said 'We did nothing wrong.'
Prosecutors claim Trump was a 'frugal businessman'... but didn't 'negotiate down' when paying Michael Cohen
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo claimed Donald Trump was a 'frugal businessman' who 'believed in pinching pennies'.
But when it came to paying Michael Cohen for the alleged 'catch and kill' deal, he didn't 'negotiate down'.
Colangelo was insinuating that Trump was willing to pay a premium fee when it came to covering up his alleged affairs.
This, the prosecutor said, shows 'just how important it was to him to hide the true nature'.
Trump's attorney Todd Blanche hit back and noted that the ex-president paid Cohen paid $420,000, rather than $130,000.
'Would a frugal businessman … would a man who pinches pennies” repay a $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000, Blanche told the jury.
'This was not a payback.'
Trump slams Michael Cohen after leaving courtroom despite gag order meant to prevent him from doing so
Former President Donald Trump exited the courtroom Monday afternoon shortly before 1:00 p.m.
He immediately launched into a tirade attacking his former attorney Michael Cohen, whom Judge Merchan has ordered him to not speak about.
Trump mentioned how Cohen has had run-ins with the law in the past, but noted to reporters they 'had nothing to do with me.'
'He represented a lot of people over the years but they take this payment and they call it a legal expense.'
'This is what I got indicted over,' Trump said.
'It’s a case as to bookkeeping which is a very minor thing in terms of the law, in terms of all the violent crime,' Trump continued
Trump said that the trial was 'unfair' and that he should be allowed to campaign for his presidential bid instead of sitting in court.
Court wraps up early because of a juror's dental appointment
National Enquirer publisher David Pecker didn't get far with his testimony before the judge wrapped up proceedings early for the day.
Pecker told the court he had the final say on 'big stories' involving celebrities walked through the process of picking the magazine's cover.
He also explained to the jury how they used 'checkbook journalism' to pay for stories and how he had a private email to hide certain communications with his assistant.
The tabloid executive is a central figure in the case after he alerted Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels and her plan to reveal her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
Pecker alerted Trump in October 2016 of Daniel's affair allegations, but she ultimately settled a $130,000 non-disclosure deal with Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen.
Trump attorney Alina Habba decries trial as a 'disgrace to the American judicial system'
Trump's attorney Alina Habba slammed the trial as a disgrace Monday afternoon.
'The fact that we have two courts not one, criminal and civil, being used against one man because they cannot beat him in the polls is a disgrace to the American judicial system,' Habba told reporters.
'You should not have two teams of lawyers here today.'
She called the case 'the epitome of a witch hunt.'
David Pecker takes the stand as first witness testimony kicks off
Senior U.S. Political Reporter Rob Crilly reports from court:
The prosecution called David Pecker, former National Enquirer publisher, as their first witness.
He entered wearing a grey suit with a yellow tie and glasses. Pecker sported a neatly trimmed moustache and glossy hair.
Pecker is a central figure in the case after he alerted Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels and her plan to reveal her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
Pecker alerted Trump in October 2016 of Daniel's affair but she ultimately settled a $130,000 non-disclosure deal with Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen.
Prosecutors will grill Pecker about her personal friendship with Trump and his efforts to help him 'catch and kill' negative stories about him during the presidential campaign.
Pecker also directed a payment to former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to suppress her claims of an extended affair with Trump.
Judge clashes with defense attorney who suggested Stormy Daniels tried to extort Trump and Michael Cohen is liar
Senior U.S. Political Reporter Rob Crilly reports from court:
Judge Merchan flashed some irritation with Trump defense lead Todd Blanche during his 30-minute opening statement.
The prosecution raised objections six times, first as Blanche tried to suggest that Stormy Daniels may have been trying to extort Trump.
Merchan sustained the first two then called both sides up to the bench for a brief conference before allowing the third objection to stand.
The same thing then happened minutes later as Blanche tried to suggest key prosecution witness Michael Cohen was a liar.
Merchan could be seen talking animatedly to Blanche during their brief conference.
Objections are not unprecedented in opening statements. But they are fairly unusual. The lawyers know the law and have had time to prepare their addresses. Objections are more usual during the evidence phase, when witnesses are quizzed.
Trump's defense attorneys lay into Michael Cohen calling him 'obsessed' with former president and that his livelihood 'depended on Trump's destruction'
Defense attorney Todd Blanche told the jury that Michael Cohen, the president's former attorney, is 'obsessed' with Trump and relies on him for income.
Blanche noted how Cohen has written multiple books about the former president and frequently does media appearances to speak about the 45th U.S. president.
'His entire financial livelihood depends on President Trump’s destruction,' Blanche said.
'You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump relying on the words of Michael Cohen, Blanche continued.
Cohen previously served time in prison for lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes related to the Stormy Daniels payment he made on behalf of Trump.
Stormy Daniels tried to 'embarrass' Trump by claiming they had an affair
Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche said her 'false allegations' she had an affair with the former president were 'sinister'.
'It was an attempt to embarrass President Trump, to embarrass his family,' Blanche said in his opening statement.
The saga between Trump and porn star Daniels began in 2006 when they met at a golf tournament in Nevada.
The case revolves around the payment made to Daniels by Trump's then-fixer Michel Cohen ahead of the 2016 presidential election to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
She claims it occurred less than four months after Melania Trump gave birth to the couple's son, Barron.
Since then there have been legal twists and turns at every corner, while Trump has spent four years in the White House and is now in the middle of bid for another term.
Trump has consistently denied the affair and insists there was no sexual encounter.
Here is a timeline of her salacious claims.
Trump attorney: 'There is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election'
Donald Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche started his opening statement by insisting the former president didn't commit a crime and 'there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election'.
'The 34 counts, ladies and gentlemen, are really just pieces of paper,' Blanche told the jury.
'None of this was a crime,' he added.
About the payment to Stormy Daniels, he said: 'Ask yourself: would a frugal businessman who pinches pennies repay a $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000?'
He then addressed the heart of the allegations in the hush money case and said: 'I have a spoiler alert: There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It’s called democracy.'
The lawyer who facilitated Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal deals wrote on 2016 election night to National Enquirer boss 'What have we done?'
Keith Davidson, the lawyer who cut deals for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal with the National Enquirer, texted the outlet's editor-in-chief Dylan Howard on the evening of the 2016 election: 'What have we done?'
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo noted the message while laying out his opening arguments before the jury.
McDougal, the 1998 Playboy playmate of the year, claims she had a year-long affair with Trump between 2006 and 2007.
She claims the pair were in 'love' but he has denied they had a relationship.
Prosecution questions National Enquirer stories that targeted Trump's 2016 GOP opponents: Ted Cruz's 'sexual infidelity' and Ben Carson's medical malpractice mentioned
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo brought up stories that seemed to attack Trump's 2016 GOP primary opponents, saying they could be a part of coordination between the former president and the outlet to impact that year's election.
Colangelo mentioned stories from the outlet that accused Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, of 'sexual infidelity.'
He also mentioned a story that highlighted Ted Cruz's alleged 'family connection to the JFK assassination.'
Further, Colangelo brought up an additional National Enquirer story that accused Ben Carson of medical malpractice before the election.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo explains 'catch and kill' methods allegedly used by Trump to avoid bad press before 2016 election
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo laid the groundwork for the case against Donald Trump by explaining to the jury how a 'catch and kill' scheme works and who was involved in Trump's case.
'They used a practice called catch and kill,' he told the jury.
'It’s a way of buying damaging information not to publish it, but to hide it, make it go away, and in this case, help the candidate.'
Colangelo argued that the ex-publisher of National Enquirer, David Pecker, allegedly paid a Trump Tower doorman $30,000 for exclusive rights to a story about the former president potentially fathering a secret child.
'It was the first time that David Pecker had ever paid anyone for information about Donald Trump,' Colangelo said.
The prosecutor then described another 'catch and kill' deal with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who has alleged she had a months-long affair with Trump.
Colangelo told the court that additional evidence would highlight how Trump 'desperately did not want this information about Karen McDougal to become public because he was concerned about the election.'
Trump shakes his head as prosecutors say he 'orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election' in blockbuster opening statement in the hush money trial
Trump shook his head as a prosecutor told the courtroom that he orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2106 election.
'This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up, the defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election,' Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo said.
Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor under New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, is arguing before the jurors now.
'Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again,' Colangelo said.
Donald dozes at morning trial: Trump appears to have issues staying awake as Judge Merchan reads lengthy jury instructions
Former President Donald Trump appeared to have difficulty staying awake as Judge Merchan delivered lengthy instructions to the jury.
According to reporters in the room, Trump's eyes appeared closed at several points and his head seemed to nod down before he snapped back to attention.
Merchan gave the jurors instructions for nearly 30 minutes as Trump seemed to ward off sleepiness.
Judge tells jurors that witnesses can only testify about 'matters they have personal knowledge of'
Judge Juan Merchan tells jurors they cannot guess or speculate about what a witness may have seen or what they know.
He said those who take the stand should only speak about 'matters they have personal knowledge of.'
Here are some of the key figures set to testify in the case in the coming weeks.
Trump shakes his head in frustration as judge rules he can be questioned on $364 million fraud fine, Access Hollywood tape
Trump shook his head in court as Judge Merchan said that he could be questioned on a slew of damaging matters.
Before the jury came in, he ruled that the transcript of the infamous Access Hollywood tape should be allowed in as evidence, even if the tape itself cannot be played because it would be prejudicial.
Merchan also ruled on material outside of the case that Trump can be cross examined on if he gives evidence.
He said Trump could be questioned on outside matters if they were ‘criminal, vicious and immoral acts.'
Trump shook his head in clear frustration as the judge said that prosecutors could grill him about the $364 million verdict handed down by another New York judge for business fraud.
He also could be asked about combined fines of $15,000 for making ‘untrue, disparaging and personally identifying posts’ about the judge’s law clerk in that case.’
The jury is brought in... and 'The State of New York vs Donald J. Trump' officially begins
Judge Juan Merchan asks the jury to be brought in ahead of opening statements.
'Members of the jury, we are about to proceed with the trial of the people of the state of New York vs Donald J Trump,' he says.
'You must decide this case on the evidence'.
Merchan told the panel of 12 Manhattan residents that the 'defendant is presumed innocent' in the proceedings, and they should find him 'not guilty' if prosecutors don't meet the 'burden of proof'.
Prosecutors are allowed to ask Trump about E. Jean Carroll verdicts
Prosecutors can ask Donald Trump about both E. Jean Carroll verdicts in federal court if he takes the stand in the hush money trial, the judge ruled on Monday.
In both cases, a jury found that Trump defamed the Elle columnist when he denied rape allegations.
He was also found liable for sexual assault.
Trump asks why his fans can't protest outside the courthouse while pro-Palestinian 'rioters' can 'scream' and 'block traffic'
Donald Trump questioned why pro-Palestinian protesters are allowed to ‘roam cities’ and ‘block traffic’ while MAGA supporters are shut down.
The former president then urged his faithful fans to protest ‘all over the country’ hours before opening statements in the hush money trial began.
‘America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses, all over the Country, just like it is allowed for those who are destroying our Country on the Radical Left, a two-tiered system of justice,’ he posted on Truth Social on Monday morning.
He started off by asking: ‘Why are Palestinian protesters, and even rioters, allowed to roam the Cities, scream, shout, sit, block traffic, enter buildings, not get permits, and basically do whatever they want including threatening Supreme Court Justices right in front of their homes, and yet people who truly LOVE our Country, and want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, are not allowed to “Peacefully Protest,” and are rudely and systematically shut down and ushered off to far away “holding areas,” essentially denying them their Constitutional Rights.’
Juror who expressed concerns over media attention will stay on panel, Judge Merchan says
Despite one of the jurors expressing concern over the media attention they may receive as a result of the highly publicized trial, they will remain on the panel, Judge Juan Merchan said.
'Juror number nine is going to remain with us,' Merchan said.
He added that the media attention is 'not going to be an issue.'
Trump's shoulders stooped down as he takes seat in the courtroom
Senior U.S. Political Reporter Rob Crilly reports from court:
Trump walked in at the head of his defense team, shoulders slightly stooped.
He took his seat in the front row of the court, facing a wall of 20ft high wood paneling, inscribed with 'In God We Trust.'
One of his top campaign aides, Jason Miller, has taken a seat at the back of the court
Six rows of journalists are seated on hard wooden benches behind the defendant.
The court has a scuffed, tiled floor. And has been modified for the trial, with four large video screens.
A pool of photographers has just hurried in to take pictures of Trump.
Former President Donald Trump arrived at the New York courthouse ahead of his ongoing hush money trial as the first day featuring witness testimony is about to kick off
Former President Donald Trump has arrived at the courtroom for his ongoing hush money trial.
Shortly before entering the courtroom, he spoke to the press calling the trial 'a witch hunt.'
'This is a witch hunt and it's a shame,' Trump said.
'I just want people to understand that this is done for purposes of hurting the opponent of the worst president in the history of our country.'
Trump also called the trial election interference, saying it keeps him from events in battleground states crucial to his re-election effort.
The former president also did not mince words about another ongoing trial that he's embroiled in.
'Second of all, we have another trial going on right now. That's Leticia James. She campaigned on the fact that 'I will get Trump, I'm going to get Trump' and it has to do with a bond of $175 million.'
Currently, Trump is attempting to post a bond payment in New York, but New York Attorney General Letitia James has brought up issues with the settlement.
Trump entered the room just before 9:30 a.m.
Trump tears into pro-Palestinian 'rioters' who 'scream' and 'block traffic' while MAGA is 'not allowed' to protest as he heads to court for opening statements
Donald Trump left his Manhattan home on Monday morning and headed to court to hear opening statements in the historic hush money trial after tearing into pro-Palestinian protesters.
The former president could also be confronted with the prosecutors' first witness, former National Enquirer publisher and friend David Pecker.
The 77-year-old waved and raised his fist to photographers and onlookers as he walked across the sidewalk from Trump Tower and got into his waiting SUV.
On Monday morning he took to Truth Social to post 'witch hunt' and 'election interference' to slam the Stormy Daniels case he says is a political prosecution.
He also asked why pro-Palestinian demonstrators were allowed to 'roam cities' and 'block traffic' while his supporters weren't allowed to protest outside court.
He issued a rallying cry to his MAGA faithful and told them to march 'across the country'.
Trump forced to cancel first rally since start of hush money trial
Donald Trump was 'devastated' on Saturday when he had to cancel his first rally since the start of the hush money trial.
The former president was set to speak to his MAGA faithful in Wilmington, North Carolina.
But a storm forced him to suspend the event. He called into the site and apologized to the thousands of fans who had shown up to watch him.
He promised to reschedule a 'bigger and better' event at the same location as 'quickly as possible'.
'Tortured jurors department': Donald Trump mocked with Taylor Swift reference during hush money trial by former White House press secretary
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki used Taylor Swift to taunt Donald Trump over the weekend.
Psaki, who now works for MSNBC after serving under Joe Biden, posted a graphic with a court sketch from the former president's trial with the caption: 'Tortured Jurors Department'.
It was a spin on the title of Swift's new album that was released last week.
Biden has been reportedly seeking Switf's endorsement ahead of his rematch with Donald Trump.
Trump has said she would be 'disloyal' if he backed his rival.
Trump accused of violating gag order SEVEN more times and risks jail: Hearing on gag order violations will be on Tuesday
Witness testimony will pause on Tuesday when the judge considers whether Donald Trump should be held in contempt for violating the gag order.
Attorneys for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said the former president should be punished for sharing a New York Post article calling Michael Cohen a 'serial perjurer' and 'embarrassment' to the court system.
Another was Trump resharing a quote from Fox News host Jesse Watters saying the defense team is 'catching undercover liberal activists lying to the judge' to get on the jury.
Here is a recap of the accusations against him.
RECAP: Man dies after setting himself on fire outside court, crying jurors and lawyers argue over evidence
Friday turned into one of the most dramatic days of Donald Trump's hush money trial.
Tragic and horrifying scenes unfolded outside the court when a man set himself on fire in a park across the street. He later died in hospital.
Inside court proceedings continued with jurors breaking down in tears and lawyers fighting over what evidence should be heard.
One prospective juror admitted to the court that she was an ex-con, and questioned if she was allowed to be considered.
Another said the whole trial was 'more stressful than I thought' and was sent home.
At the end of the day, prosecutors argued that Trump's $355million fraud fine and the E. Jean Carroll sex assault defamation ruling should be heard by the jurors.
Will jurors get cold feet?
Twelve Manhattan residents have been selected to decide the fate of Donald Trump in the hush money trial.
They went through a rigorous process last week to ensure they would be impartial and fair when deciding if the former president is guilty or not guilty.
Now they have had the weekend to think over their selection, will they change their minds and tell the judge they can't move forward with the trial.
One juror dropped out last week after she got concerned that her family and friends already knew she was on the case.
Others have also dropped out because they felt overwhelmed by the anxiety and stress surrounding the trial.
Privacy of the jurors has also been a worry.
Donald Trump's historic hush money trial will hear 'dynamite evidence more devastating than Michael Cohen', lawyer claims
An NYU law professor believes that David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, will provide 'dynamite evidence' against Donald Trump when he takes the stand on Monday morning.
It was revealed over the weekend in a New York Times report that Pecker would be the first witness called against the ex-president during his historic trial in Manhattan over allegations he participated in a hush money scheme ahead of the 2016 election.
'Pecker could be key witness - in ways more devastating than Michael Cohen .This also indicates DA is foregrounding unlawful election influence for jurors,' Professor Ron Goodman tweeted.
'Pecker's testimony should be strong proof of core allegation that the hush money scheme was geared toward influencing the outcome of the presidential election,' he added.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker set to take the witness stand
Once opening statements have finished, prosecutors are set to call David Pecker as their first witness.
Pecker is a central figure in the case after he alerted Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels and her plan to reveal her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
Pecker alerted Trump in October 2016 of Daniel's affair but she ultimately settled a $130,000 non-disclosure deal with Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen.
Pecker is expected to detail how he worked with Trump and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to broker deals.
Welcome to DailyMail.com's coverage of opening statements of Donald Trump's hush money trial
Donald Trump's historic hush money trial in Manhattan kicks off on Monday with opening statements and could end with testimony from the first witness.
Prosecutors will lay out whether the 77-year-old hid a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged affair in a bid to help him win the 2016 election.
Then Trump's legal team will tell the jury how they will defend the first former president in history to stand criminal trial.
Jury selection finished on Friday with 12 members on the full panel and six alternates.
Here are some details on who they are.
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- Travis Kelce jets into the Miami Grand Prix after day out at the Kentucky Derby... but there's no Taylor Swift as he hangs out with Patrick Mahomes
- Sen. Marco Rubio reiterates calls to revoke visas of foreign college students engaged in widespread anti-Israel campus protests
- Robert De Niro, 80, steps out in NYC after blasting 'monster' Donald Trump and being accused of yelling at protesters
- Donald Trump's former aide and trial witness Hope Hicks, 35, is set to walk down the aisle this summer
- Republican Senator Ron Johnson reveals the two major ways he claims Joe Biden is BUYING votes to win the 2024 presidential election
- OnlyFans star Farha Khalidi claims she was paid by Biden administration to spread 'political propaganda' to her thousands of social media followers
- Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori suffers embarrassing mishap as her $114K Porsche is TOWED just after she was seen driving it
- British government downplayed 'gobsmacking' Covid lab leak information
- Ex-Dem Tulsi Gabbard gives Joe Rogan a dire prediction on what could happen in November if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are reelected
- The 11 states where Americans face at least 50% capital gains tax rates if Biden's plan passes ... do YOU live in one of them?
- Trump reveals exactly what he'll do if he loses the 2024 presidential election
- Trump VP hopeful Kristi Noem stands by claims Joe Biden's aggressive dog Commander should be put down like she did with her 'dangerous' puppy: 'Say hello to Cricket'
- The text messages that tell the inside story of how the National Enquirer bought and killed Playboy model Karen McDougal's tale: 'I have a blockbuster Trump story'
- Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney take HUGE next step in their relationship as they share a slew of loved up snaps
- Legoland arrest as woman, 27, is held on suspicion of neglect after a five-month-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest at the Windsor resort
- Green councillor who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds is accountant father-of-three who gushes about growing potatoes on his gardening blog - while describing Gaza as 'the world's biggest concentration camp'
- A yell of 'Allahu Akbar' defined the local elections. Our democracy will break apart if the sectarian voting it embodies takes hold in Britain, writes DANIEL HANNAN
- Dozens of pro-Gaza activists are elected to councils across Britain as fears grow the Middle East conflict will dominate many town halls after Muslim Vote group issues Keir Starmer with a list of 18 demands
- Celebrity bodyguard - whose A-list clients include Michael Jackson and Kendall Jenner - reveals what the stars are REALLY like behind closed doors and who he'd NEVER work for
- You've been eating in restaurants all wrong! Etiquette guru reveals dining out do's and don'ts, from how to wipe your mouth like royalty to the clever trick for letting friends know you want to split the bill (without saying a word)
- Pictured: Prince Andrew's crumbling Royal Lodge left 'neglected' despite 'promising to pay for £400k upkeep of mansion' as Duke risks row with King Charles and Prince William over whether he should still be living there
- Revealed: Bernard Hill pulled out of Lord of the Rings reunion at Comic Con just hours before he died aged 79 after telling organisers 'his partner was ill' - as video emerges of the star chuckling and telling fans to 'keep going'
- JAN MOIR: Is Basil goose stepping in front of Germans still funny? Of course it bloody is! - As John Cleese's Fawlty Towers play packs out a West End theatre
- Gary Barlow's £6M mansion 'targeted by gang of burglars as the singer performed with Take That on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'
- Revealed: The mind-boggling drug interactions you MUST know - and it's not just grapefruit juice and statins you need to beware of...
- Stonehenge is 'pointless', Sydney Harbour Bridge is 'unimpressive' and Mount Rushmore is 'obnoxious': Fifteen popular tourist attractions that for some just didn't live up to the hype
- Never-before-seen photos show Banksy as a teen long before he became the shy superstar artist worth millions as school friends say its a 'mystery' that people still pretend he's 'anonymous'
- My £142k home is unsellable after builders made a MAJOR blunder and then went bust... I'm trapped
- Why popping a spot could kill you if it is in the 'triangle of death': Britain's Dr Pimple Popper reveals her ultimate guide to banishing your spots - including the perfect time to squeeze (and why doing it incorrectly really could go seriously wrong)
- SARAH VINE: Why Harry cannot just waltz back whenever he fancies
- Billionaire PLT founder Umar Kamani marries model Nada Adelle in £20million wedding weekend with two ceremonies and surprise performances from Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli across four day extravaganza
- More peace talks underway between Israel and Hamas in Cairo to secure release of hostages still trapped in Gaza after nearly seven months of fighting
- Revealed: Nada Kamani's showpiece Dior gown took a staggering 540 hours to make as she tied the knot at £20million wedding to PrettyLittleThing boss Umar Kamani
- Disney documentary stars' sick jibe at cancer-stricken Charles: Wrexham footballers Paul Mullin and James McClean share tasteless photo while partying with Hollywood owner Rob McElhenney in Vegas
- Mystery Marble Arch murderer who knifed aspiring hotelier Angela, 27, to death then fled the UK 'met her through Airbnb and told her he'd pay £30k a month to rent the entire flat', her mother reveals
- Emotional moment father, 90, with Alzheimer's, sings along as his daughter plays a traditional Welsh song they used to sing together on The Piano - as she reveals they can still 'connect' through music
- Rishi Sunak insists there is 'everything to play for' despite Tories' brutal local election drubbing after voting expert predicts a hung parliament despite Labour's poll lead - as Suella Braverman warns PM to veer Right to save the party
- Fight to own Britain's biggest mega-mansion: An oligarch whose daughter-in-law is 'too pretty to work' is trying to see off an ex-colleague who says a verbal agreement entitles him to £300m pad in London. DOMINIC MIDGLEY explains the very ugly court battle
- Ipswich Town fans leave extraordinary sea of litter through the town centre as supporters enjoy boozy celebrations to mark Premier Leage promotion - with council bosses telling them: 'Keep the memories, we'll handle the mess'
- Four arrested after half a tonne of cocaine worth £40m is found in village pub car park
- Chaos as huge party flotilla takes over sandbar as tens of thousands descend on popular Florida lake for massive drinking marathon with glamorous woman watching drunk men brawl in the water
- Black cab driver who fled a fatal midnight hit-and-run and continued picking-up passengers in his damaged taxi as his victim lay dying in the road collapses as he is jailed for four months
- Heartbroken Zoe Ball pays tribute to late partner Billy Yates seven years since his passing - days after announcing mother Julia's death
- It's the RAF to le rescue as the French call for British help to protect the skies at the Paris Olympics this summer
- Police quiz six ex-neighbours amid Angela Rayner homes row
- One year on, a low-key Coronation anniversary for King Charles... but will he meet Harry this week?
- The Archers fans on tenterhooks after cliffhanger episode of normally sedate BBC radio farming drama leaves listeners fearing four characters could be DEAD after driving disaster
- Grieving mother of Britain's heaviest man worried he will not be able to be cremated because of his 50-stone frame
- Heartbreaking downfall of brilliant lawyer, 44, who walked out on his career and family after being engulfed by mental illness during COVID and who now lives on streets of LA as panhandler
- Man found partially buried dies days after alleged torture as woman, 21, and man, 23, hit with string of charges
- Police reveal the bizarre reason why American man and two Australian brothers were targeted during surfing vacation in Mexico - before 'their bodies were dumped in a remote well'
- How furry convention descended into orgy of sex, violence and destruction as diaper clad adults dressed as cuddly animals trashed host hotel
- Pictured: Three suspects charged - including a woman - over the disappearance of Australian surfers Callum and Jake Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad in Mexico
- Kye Schaefer: Young surfer stabbed to death moments after emerging from the ocean in Coffs Harbour
- Atlanta police hoist six illegal squatters from $500,000 home after stealing neighbor's car
- Man's hands are NAILED to a fence and two vans are set on fire in 'gruesome' and 'sinister' car park attack in Northern Ireland - with victim rushed to hospital with 'life-altering injuries'
- How Anna Wintour has declared that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos's fiancee Lauren has such poor taste, she can't come to Monday's Met gala... unless the Vogue queen styles her personally!
- Actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79: Lord of the Rings and Titanic star set to appear opposite Martin Freeman in BBC drama tonight passes away
- The key Samantha Murphy question that still hasn't been answered after she vanished without a trace three months ago
- Queensland mum stunned by angry neighbour's 'unreasonable' note about crying baby
- Moment Green Party councillor shouts 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds - as he declares his victory 'a win for the people of Gaza'
- Intriguing images created by AI show what the royals could look like thirty years from now... but what is Harry doing with more hair than he has now?
- Prince Harry and King Charles to meet for a second time 'next week': Duke of Sussex is 'very keen' to see his father on Invictus Games trip to London and has 'kept regular contact' with him after his cancer diagnosis - but he won't be seeing his brother
- Woman who runs toyshop blasts customers for shopping online after she goes 20 days without making a PENNY
- Google is ruining our lives: Residents living next to tech giant's £790m data centre in Hertfordshire claim it is making them ill and knocking thousands off their house prices as they say they don't want 'US tech geeks' for neighbours!
- We've been embroiled in a 'parking war' with our neighbours for 18 months - they think it's THEIR spot... but we live on a public road
- Surfers missing in Mexico: Chilling final social media posts from U.S surfer, a lacrosse star and his brother who vanished on a trip of a lifetime
- Botswana Butchery owner Good Group Australia collapses with more than 200 jobs at risk
- Lawn mower boss shares scathing message for Peter Stefanovic after Sky News host sparked outrage for 'disrespectful' interview with 19-year-old fishing champ Keegan Payne
- Razor-tongued NYC restaurateur Keith McNally launches ANOTHER attack on Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez - before turning his sights on Jerry Seinfeld's wife
- Video shows couple appearing to have sex under a blanket in broad daylight in New York park while children played nearby
- City traders fired after being caught having sex with a cleaner in the office after-hours
- Wheel of Fortune fans left in a frenzy after contestant's embarrassing slip-up cost her over $7,000
- Inside Russian 'cannibal family's house of horror': Husband and wife 'made human meat pies, killed and ate 30 people, had a human flesh recipe book and served up a human head on a bed of tangerines'
- Devastated Midlothian High School students in Virginia find out they can't attend prom for this shocking reason
- Female teacher, 24, arrested for 'making out with boy aged 11' is dumped by fiancé who's issued blistering response to her alleged antics
- Urgent search for P&O cruise ship passenger feared to have fallen overboard near Sydney Harbour
- Prince Andrew's crumbling mansion threatens to reignite a fresh row with King Charles after he refused to leave the Royal Lodge despite fears he could not afford to pay for repairs
- Britain's 'heaviest man' dies from organ failure days before celebrating his 34th birthday, weighing over 47 stone - as his mother said doctors 'couldn't save him' after his health went 'downhill'
- The most dysfunctional state in America? Soaring unemployment, sky-rocketing debt and punishing taxes send residents fleeing
- Aussies band together to try and buy iconic farm from controversial Chinese owner - as shocking details emerge about what happened after he took over
- Mysterious update in the search for missing autistic boy Sebastian Rogers as woman shares picture of boy resembling him at mountain visitor center - two months after he vanished
- David Beckham marks turning 49 with lavish daytrip to Spain by private jet... before forking out £922 on a bottle of wine
- Body found in search for father who went missing six days ago after his dog and ute were discovered abandoned
- REVEALED: The hardest metro in America to save cash - and it's NOT New York or Los Angeles
- Three abandoned miners cottages left to rot and hidden by woodland up for auction... but the starting price may make buyers think twice
- Inside the homes of TV's design experts: They judge our houses - now you can judge theirs! From the star with a 400-year-old sofa to another with a framed picture of Vinnie Jones (and is Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's wallpaper as loud as his suits?)
- Peter Stefanovic says he regrets confronting Indigenous teen after public backlash - and is spotted looking gloomy with wife
- Moment youngsters stood and watched medical student, 26, almost drown for 20 minutes after he was shoved into lake by girl, even though he couldn't swim
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