Trump returns to NY court for second day, argues legal experts say 'hush money' was 'legal' expense

Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to a porn star during closing days of 2016 presidential election

Published: April 16, 2024 10:06am

Updated: April 16, 2024 10:19am

Former President Trump on Tuesday returned to a Manhattan courtroom for the second day of his criminal "hush money" trial. 

Trump, now the 2024 presumptive GOP presidential candidate, again used his entrance as an opportunity to plead his case to the public, since he essentially has since being charged last year.

"This is a trial that should never have been brought," said Trump, who argues the legal cases against him are politically motivated. "It should have been thrown out a long time ago."

He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to a porn star during the closing days of the 2016 presidential election.

"It was a legal expense," Trump continued. That's exactly what it was. This is all coming from the Biden White House."

Trump also argued legal expert agree the payment was indeed a legal expense.

The trial resumes with jury selection that began Monday.

The effort to find a jury of 12 people and six alternates got off to a slow start Monday, as more than half of the 96 potential jurors said they couldn't be "fair and impartial" when it comes to Trump, according to NBC News.

Trump is required to be in attendance for the trial, which is projected to last six to eight weeks.

The low-level felony for which is charged is punishable by a maximum four years in prison.

 

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