Trump’s hush-money trial begins with haggling over evidence

Summary

1. Donald Trump is in court and his long-awaited hush-money trial is under way in New York
2. It marks the first time that a US president – former or current – has faced a criminal trial
3. Both legal teams are haggling over evidence that can be used in trial, and will soon shift their focus to selecting the jury
4. Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election – which he won
5. Daniels claims she and Trump had sex in 2006, and she was then paid by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen to stay quiet about it
6. Trump is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the reimbursement money he gave Cohen was for legal fees
7. He faces 34 counts of fraud, but denies any legal wrongdoing – and also denies having an affair with Daniels
8. The maximum penalty if Trump is found guilty is four years behind bars, but experts say a much less severe penalty would be more likely