- Opening statements began in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial on Monday.
- Trump faces 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in the historic case.
- “This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a coverup,” ADA Matthew Colangelo said.
Opening arguments in Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial got underway on Monday with a prosecutor describing the case as being about a “criminal conspiracy,” while a defense attorney for the former president likened hush-money payments to “democracy.”
“This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a coverup,” Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo told the 12-person Manhattan jury in the hush-money trial.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office allege Trump illegally falsified business records by covering up a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
They’re calling it a “hush money” trial because it stands out more than “falsifying documents” trial, and that’s not an unreasonable thing to do when Trump has so many different trials going on at once that is kind of hard for the public to keep it all straight.
As for the defense attorney, this is just the opening arguments, he’s laying down track and trying to get certain facts on the jury’s minds right up front.