What happened?

  • Former President Donald Trump is the first current or former president to go on trial in the nation’s history. [foxnews.com, apnews.com, economist.com, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, theguardian.com, cnn.com]

  • The trial is related to a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. [foxnews.com, nypost.com, economist.com, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, theguardian.com]

  • Jury selection for the trial began on Monday, April 15. [apnews.com, economist.com, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, cnn.com]

  • The trial is expected to last 6-8 weeks. [economist.com, apnews.com]

  • The trial may be the only one of the four indictments against Mr. Trump to produce a verdict before the 2024 election

What is Conservative media saying:

  • Trump’s defense team could use a legal strategy involving a motion for the court to give an instruction saying the jury can convict on a lesser included offense, such as a misdemeanor. [foxnews.com]

  • Trump’s staffers pledged to keep him on the campaign trail as the case drags on. [nypost.com]

  • The judge denied Trump’s request to postpone the trial due to publicity about the case. [nypost.com]

  • Much of the commentary has consisted of accusations that DA Bragg is abusing his power and that Judge Merchan is biased. [thefederalist.com]

  • Trump told reporters there is “no case” and that the truth is that “they have no case.” [nypost.com]

  • The defense submitted a pretrial letter to the court, laying out concerns relating to jury selection. [foxnews.com]

  • Trump has repeatedly denied falsifying business records and the alleged sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels. [foxnews.com]

What is Liberal media saying:

  • Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment. [nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, theguardian.com]

  • Special counsel Jack Smith has urged the federal judge overseeing Trump’s classified documents case to reject the former president’s attempt to use the New York trial to delay facing a jury. [cnn.com]

  • Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, facilitated the payment to Daniels and later pled guilty to campaign finance charges. [theguardian.com]

  • If convicted, Trump could become the first felon to win the White House, and he has framed his failed efforts to delay the case as evidence he cannot receive a fair trial. [nytimes.com]

  • Manhattan prosecutors have accused Trump of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal, and they hold advantages, including a list of insider witnesses and a jury pool from a liberal county. [nytimes.com]

Media Sources:

  • Fox News
  • New York Post
  • The Federalist
  • Associated Press
  • The Economist
  • The New York Times
  • The Washington Post
  • The Guardian
  • CNN

Links: