Key Players in Donald Trump’s Hush Money Criminal Trial

The highly anticipated hush money criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump is set to begin with opening statements on Monday, followed by witness testimony. A jury of seven men and five women, along with six alternates, was selected last week to hear the case.

The trial centers around allegations that Trump falsified his company’s records to conceal payments made to his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who helped suppress negative stories about Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Key witnesses in the trial include Stormy Daniels, a porn actor who received a $130,000 payment from Cohen as part of the hush money scheme, and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleges she had an affair with Trump. Additionally, David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, and Hope Hicks, Trump’s former White House communications director, are expected to testify.

The prosecution team is led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a former civil rights lawyer, and prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, who has worked on high-profile cases in the past. The defense team includes Susan Necheles, a respected New York City defense lawyer, and Emil Bove, a veteran federal prosecutor.

The judge presiding over the case is Juan M. Merchan, who has denied requests from Trump’s lawyers to recuse himself from the case due to perceived bias. Merchan has assured that he can be fair and impartial in overseeing the trial.

The trial marks the first criminal case against a former U.S. president and has drawn significant attention from the public and media. Stay tuned for updates as the trial progresses.

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.