Trump trial: Former US president faces criminal charges

The trial of former US President Donald Trump began in a lower Manhattan courtroom on Monday over charges of falsifying business records.

This is the first time in US history that a former president has been tried on criminal charges, reports aljazeera.com.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has already denied falsifying business records to hide a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The US former president appeared in the State of New York courtroom on Monday.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought the case where he is charged with falsifying business records to cover a sex scandal involving the porn star.

As the trial in the other cases is being delayed, this Manhattan case goes to trial before the November election, which is boosting its potential political impact significantly.

Jury selection began Monday afternoon, and Justice Juan Merchan announced rulings on several motions before potential jurors were brought into the courtroom.

Merchan said he would disallow the prosecution to present evidence about allegations of sexual assaults against Trump, calling the claims “rumours.”

Trump, who faces 34 felony counts, could face a maximum of four years in prison if convicted. Merchan also could verdict him to probation without prison time.

Sixty out of 96 potential jurors said they couldn’t be impartial in the New York court.

Marc Leavitt, one of the few anti-Trump demonstrators, stood on a park bench as he played the national anthem and other patriotic songs on a flute.