Opening statements are set to begin this morning in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York. Prosecutors will begin laying out their case for jurors, alleging Trump falsified business records to cover up a "hush money" payment during his 2016 campaign, while defense attorneys are expected to argue Trump has been charged on flimsy evidence from an untrustworthy key witness. This trial, the first criminal case ever brought against a former U.S. president, has been years in the making, dating back to the fall of 2016 when Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter just days before the election. Prosecutors say Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payment in a scheme to conceal the "hush money." Trump, who has entered a not guilty plea, denies the allegations and has called the case a "witch hunt" and "election interference."

As the trial unfolds, there is a battle taking place not only in the Manhattan courtroom but also in the court of public opinion over what to call the case. Some media outlets have labeled it the "hush-money trial," while others, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, argue that it is about election interference and hiding information from voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump, known for his catchy shorthand, has tried to reframe the case as the "Biden trial," falsely claiming that the charges are orchestrated by the current president to influence the 2024 election. The judge, Juan Merchan, seems to echo Bragg's framing of the case, which could have a significant impact on the trial's outcome.

Trump, who has always been a polarizing figure in American politics, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison. The trial is expected to last six weeks, limiting Trump's time on the campaign trail as he is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the upcoming election. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, includes individuals with varied professional backgrounds who have expressed negative views about the former president but have assured they can judge the case fairly.

The charges against Trump revolve around allegations of hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to cover up alleged extramarital affairs during the 2016 campaign. Trump denies the affairs occurred and claims the payments were reimbursements for legal work. The trial is a historic moment as the first panel of jurors in U.S. history sits in judgment of a former president in a criminal case. The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for Trump's political future and legal battles ahead.