Jury selection has commenced in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, focusing on allegations related to hush money payments made to women who claimed to have had affairs with him.

• Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to stand trial
• He faces charges stemming from a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels
• At least 50 prospective jurors were dismissed after saying they could not be impartial

The former U.S. president said, “It’s a scam trial. If you read all of the legal pundits, all of the legal scholars today, there’s not one that I see that said, this is a case that should be brought or tried. It’s a scam. It’s a political witch hunt.”

Trump must attend the trial, which is expected to last through May, as reported by Reuters.

Criminal charges

Prosecutors allege that Trump orchestrated payments to silence Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had extramarital affairs with him, ahead of the 2016 presidential election

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were not campaign-related and therefore not subject to campaign finance laws.

However, the prosecution contends that the payments were made to influence the election, constituting a violation of federal law.

The trial is expected to delve into Trump’s involvement in the payments and his knowledge of their purpose.