Trump’s hush-money trial: here’s what’s happened so far

Donald Trump attends his criminal trial in New York on 18 April. Photograph: Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. The 2024 Republican presumptive presidential nominee faces the threat of prison if he is convicted. The New York case alleges that Trump falsified the financial transaction behind the $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Here’s what you need to know about the case and what happened today:

19 April: what happened at a glance

Trump appeared in court for the fourth day of his hush-money trial on Friday. After days of jury selection, the court has finally chosen all 12 jurors and six alternate jurors.

The selection of all 18 jurors was not without setbacks, as judge Juan Merchan dismissed two seated jurors earlier this week over identity and credibility concerns. Prospective jurors were grilled on their political leanings, social media posts and many other facets of their lives.

Merchan told Donald Trump’s defense team – which has repeatedly challenged and re-challenged rulings he has made – to stop trying to have another bite at the apple, adding that opening statements are going to happen on Monday morning.

Court resumed in the afternoon with a “Sandoval hearing” – a pre-trial meeting to discuss a list of things prosecutors want to ask the defendant should he choose to take the stand. In this case, the main issues prosecutors want to bring up if Trump decides to testify are previous court cases that undercut his credibility. Merchan said he would announce what he’ll permit on Monday.

A man set himself on fire outside the Manhattan criminal court where the trial was under way. The man has been identified as Maxwell Azarello from St Augustine, Florida. Azarello has been described as a “conspiracy theorist” by police and had pamphlets on scene which police described as “propaganda-based”. He is in critical condition at Weill Cornell’s burn unit.

Key characters and facts

Trump hush-money trial status: Trump pleaded not guilty; trial began 15 April 2024.

Charges: 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.

Hush-money case summary: The case involves a hush-money scheme during the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to quash her story about having an extramarital affair with the former president. Trump has denied the affair took place. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally reimbursing Cohen for the hush-money payment by falsely classifying the transaction, executed by the Trump Organization, as legal expenses.

Verdict before election? Likely

What has happened in the case so far

19 April: The court has finally chosen all 18 jurors who will decide the fate of Donald Trump in his historic criminal trial. With the jury bench now full, the trial is expected to move toward opening statements next week.

18 April: Twelve jurors have been selected for Donald Trump’s criminal trial after two seated jurors had been removed earlier in the day.

17 April: It was a day off for the hush-money trial before resuming the next day. Judge Juan Merchan said opening arguments could begin as early as Monday.

16 April: Judge Juan Merchan admonished Trump for “gesturing and speaking in the direction of the juror” as jury selection continued in the second day of the criminal trial.

15 April: Trump’s hush-money trial began on Monday. He is the country’s first president – present or former – to face a criminal trial. Three key takeaways from the first day.

14 April: Trump continued to attack the prosecutor, judge and a key witness in the trial against him

12 April: “The only thing special about this case is the defendant”: Trump’s New York criminal trial begins – but will the public care?

10 April: A New York judge rejected, for the third straight day, Trump’s attempt to delay his hush-money trial.