WARNED BY JUDGE
The criminal trial, expected to last six to eight weeks, is the first ever for a former US president and comes as Trump is taking on Democratic President Joe Biden in a bid to make a shock return to the White House in November.
The Republican faces three other criminal cases, including on far more serious charges of attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, but these have been repeatedly delayed.
Trump has been ordered by the judge to attend every day, forcing the scandal-tainted real estate tycoon to exchange the campaign trail for the unglamorous confines of a rundown courthouse.
The reality that Trump is no longer in control of his image – or fate – while in court is something that the born showman, who has constantly flouted the norms and rules of political life, has rarely experienced.
The judge has made it clear he will not tolerate Trump’s habitual grandstanding, warning him earlier this week when he began to mutter towards prospective jurors.
“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom,” Merchan said.
Merchan has also warned Trump against intimidating people connected to the case on social media.
The judge scheduled a hearing next week to consider whether Trump should already be held in contempt for violating a partial gag order prohibiting him from attacking witnesses, jurors, court staff or their families.
If convicted of falsifying business records, the twice-impeached Trump would potentially face prison, but legal observers say fines would be more likely.
