1:01 PM PDT, April 17, 2024
The historic criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has begun. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for allegedly participating in a hush money scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty.
Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to go on trial for criminal charges.
Trump, who is the presumptive GOP nominee in the 2024 presidential election, currently faces four criminal cases, but this may be the only case to face a jury before the election. If convicted, Trump could face the possibility of jail time.
The former president is required to be present in court every day. The trial could last up to five weeks.
“I’ll be here during the day and campaigning during the night. Biden should be doing the same thing but he’ll be sleeping,” Trump said in February, when his lawyers' request to have the hearing postponed was denied. “But I’m honored to sit here day after day after day.”
Determining the Start of the Trial
Ahead of the start of his trial, former President Donald Trump and his attorney Susan Necheles attended a hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on March 25 to determine the trial's date.
Covering History
Members of the media line up and are checked off lists to get inside Manhattan Criminal Court for the first day of former President Donald Trump's trial in New York City on April 15.
Protesters Outside Trump's Trial
People demonstrate outside Manhattan Criminal Court on the first day of former U.S. President Donald Trump's trial in New York City on April 15.
Leaving Trump Tower to Go to Criminal Court
Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs Trump Tower for Manhattan Criminal Court, to attend the first day of his trial in New York City on April 15.
Support for Trump
Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump demonstrate outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as Trump attends the first day of his trial in New York City on April 15.
Demonstrators Protest Trump
Demonstrators protest outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial in New York City on April 15.
Trump in Court
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15.
Trump in Court
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15.
Trump in Court
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15.
Trump in Court
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15.
Trump's Support Outside of Court
Supporters of former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gather outside the Manhattan Criminal Court on the first day of his trial on April 15.
Protesters vs. Protesters
New York City Police Department officers escort an anti-Trump protester away from pro-Trump demonstrators outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial in New York City on April 15.
Back to Trump Tower
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives back to Trump Tower after the first day of his trial in New York City on April 15.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (L) arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court for the second day of the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City on April 16.
Security Precautions
New York police officers patrol outside Manhattan Criminal Court during the second day of the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City on April 16.
Trump Talks to the Press
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, with lawyer Todd Blanche (R), speaks to the press as he attends the second day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16. Trump said the day before that he has a "real problem" with the judge handling his New York criminal case, and that he should be on the campaign trail instead of in court. "We're not going to be given a fair trial," Trump told reporters outside the Manhattan courtroom after jury selection ended for the day.
"The Right to a Fair Trial Is Really Important"
Kara McGee, an excused juror, speaks to the media outside Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16, during the second day of the trial against former U.S. President Donald Trump.
McGee, 29, works in cyber security and asked to be excused because she says she needs to focus on her job.
“Regardless of how you feel about Donald Trump, the right to a fair trial is really important,” McGee tells Inside Edition.
She says she would have liked to be on the jury.
“When I got jury summons, my mom said, ‘I think that’s when the Trump trial is,’” McGee says. “I said, ‘Oh wow that would be cool.’”
Support for Trump
A supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump drives a van outside Manhattan Criminal Court on the second day of Trump's trial in New York on April 16.
Mayor Eric Adams
New York Mayor Eric Adams appears outside Manhattan Criminal Court for the second day of the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on April 16.
Protester vs. Protester
An anti-Trump protester argues with a Trump supporter outside Manhattan Criminal Court during the second day of the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on April 16.
Trump Speaks to Reporters
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the conclusion of the second day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on April 16.
Trump Heads to Harlem
Former U.S. President Donald Trump visits a Sanaa convenient store in Harlem after spending his second day of his trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16.
Trump Heads to Harlem
People cheer as a motorcade carrying former U.S. President Donald Trump drives in Harlem after spending his second day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16.
Trump Heads to Harlem
People also protest as a motorcade carrying former U.S. President Donald Trump drives in Harlem after spending his second day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16.