First witness called in Trump hush money trial

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)— Donald Trump’s trial began in earnest Monday with opening statements and the first witness.

Inside and outside the courtroom, Trump and his lawyers claimed that the former president is unfairly accused of illegally hiding hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

“He should not even be here today because he did nothing wrong,” Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba said.

Trump’s defense told the 12-person jury that the payments, like the $130,000 check given to Daniels by Trump’s lawyer were not illegal.

“This is a case where you pay a lawyer, it’s a lawyer, and they call it a legal expense,” Trump said.

Prosecutors say Trump lied about the money in official New York business records. They argue Trump directed his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay the National Enquirer to buy exclusive rights to actress Daniels’ story of an alleged affair with Trump and make sure it was not published before the 2016 election.

The ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, was the first prosecution witness in the trial.

“I should be in Florida now. I should be in a lot of different places right now campaigning, and I’m sitting here,” Trump said.

Trump insists the case is part of a Democratic conspiracy to keep him off the campaign trail.

Pecker will continue his testimony tomorrow.

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