Former President Donald Trump appeared frustrated in court as his trial began in Manhattan.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that the transcript from Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape could be cited as evidence, though not played.
Trump could also be questioned about past legal issues unrelated to the case.
Prosecutors intend to argue Trump paid hush money to cover up an affair and interfere with the 2016 election.
Trump’s lawyer will argue it was merely about an affair and financial issues, not serious election interference.
“It is an election interference gateway drug,” former Obama White House ethics lawyer Norm Eisen said.
“Trump’s lawyers and Bragg’s team are going to be having an argument about: Was this a serious case of campaign corruption and cover-up?” Eisen said. “Was this a scheme to interfere with an election? … Or is it a case about an affair, a few wrong words on the books and making a mountain out of a molehill?”
The jury was selected and opening statements began.
Prosecutors are expected to call their first witness, David Pecker, to discuss the National Enquirer burying negative Trump stories.
Legal experts will watch if prosecutors effectively argue it was election interference rather than just a sex scandal.
Trump complained on social media that his supporters are restricted from protesting outside the courthouse.
“America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses, all over the Country, just like it is allowed for those who are destroying our Country on the Radical Left, a two-tiered system of justice,” Trump wrote.
“Why are Palestinian protesters, and even rioters, allowed to roam the Cities, scream, shout, sit, block traffic, enter buildings, not get permits, and basically do whatever they want including threatening Supreme Court Justices right in front of their homes, and yet people who truly LOVE our Country, and want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, are not allowed to ‘Peacefully Protest,’ and are rudely and systematically shut down and ushered off to far away ‘holding areas,’ essentially denying them their Constitutional Rights.”
