The “hush money” trial against Donald Trump has begun, with twelve jurors and six alternates taking the oath.
The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The allegations against Trump originate from claims that he paid the actress hush money and then passed it off as a legal expenditure. Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election and another $150,000 to Karen McDougal so that she would not spill the beans about Trump.
The former Playboy model McDougal, alleges she had an intimate encounter with Trump between 2006 and 2007. She said she had no idea he was seeing other women, and that she had paid for her plane ticket to meet with Trump; he would refund her so they could keep the money a secret.
After experiencing feelings of shame and receiving nasty remarks from Trump, McDougal decided to end her relationship with him. Trump allegedly insulted McDougal’s mother in discussions with her associates.
The tabloid National Enquirer was awarded the rights to publish McDougal’s claimed affair with Trump in August 2016 under a deal she signed with American Media (AMI). AMI and the Trump team agreed to censor unflattering news about him as part of a bigger deal. In exchange, McDougal was offered $150,000 to be featured on two magazine covers and a regular health column in their magazines.
According to the prosecution, the initial plan was for Michael Cohen, Trump’s attorney, to reimburse AMI for the money they paid McDougal. Nevertheless, AMI finally terminated the arrangement at the last minute.
During the trial, it is anticipated that the strategy to reveal the affair claims against McDougal would be covered, drawing attention to Trump’s broader plan to bury adverse reports before the election.
The payment to McDougal is one of three hush money transactions that prosecutors have mentioned in their case against Trump. As of now, 34 felonies against Trump allege that he falsified company documents.
