Key Points
- Opening arguments have been heard in the historic trial against former United States president Donald Trump.
- Prosecutors say Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her.
- The defence has argued Daniels' testimony does not matter.
During the opening day of arguments in former United States president Donald Trump's criminal trial, prosecutors and defence lawyers verbally sparred in front of a jury over hush money allegations, his business records and election fraud.
Trump is alleged to have arranged for his then-fixer Michael Cohen , who was ready to speak to the press ahead of the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump, 77, dressed in a dark blue suit and blue tie with an American flag pin on his lapel, sat at the defence table flanked by his lawyers, staring straight ahead as the prosecutor delivered his opening remarks.
Prosecution lays out its case
Assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo said Trump paid off Daniels "to silence her".
(Trump) orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. He lied in his New York business records over and over and over again.Prosecution
"With pressure mounting and election day fast approaching, Donald Trump agreed to the payoff and directed Cohen to proceed.
"It was election fraud, pure and simple," Colangelo said.
"I suspect the defence will go to great lengths to get you to reject (Cohen's) testimony, precisely because it is so damning."
Stormy Daniels allegedly received a 'hush money' payment from Trump's former personal lawyer in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump in 2006. Credit: PA
"We ask you to use your common sense ... look past any irrelevant sideshows that might pop up during this trial. Tune out the noise. Focus on the facts."
The defence fights back
Defence attorney Todd Blanche said: "He's not just our former president. He's not just Donald Trump that you've seen on TV and read about and seen photos of. He's also a man. He's a husband. He's a father. He's a person just like you and just like me.
"The story that you just heard you will learn is not true and at the end of this trial there will be plenty of reasonable doubt."
On Stormy Daniels: "Her testimony, while salacious, does not matter."
I have a spoiler alert: there's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy.Trump's defence
On Michael Cohen: "He's a convicted felon. And he also is a convicted perjurer. He's an admitted liar ... I submit to you that cannot be trusted."
"We trust that you're going to decide this case based on the evidence you hear in this courtroom, and nothing else. And if you do that, there will be a very swift not-guilty verdict."
Trump, outside court
Outside the courthouse, Donald Trump said: "it's a very, very sad day in America. I'm here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania, in Georgia, and lots of other places campaigning."
Trump faces for reimbursements made to Cohen, his personal lawyer, for the $130,000 "hush money" payment to Daniels.
This is a witch hunt.Donald Trump
A unanimous verdict will be required to convict Trump, who has been ordered to attend each day of the trial.
The case poses substantial risks to the Republican presidential candidate, coming less than seven months before his November .
