Trump fumes as prosecutors say he 'orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 election' and detail 'catch and kill' plot in blockbuster opening statements in hush money trial

Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal plot to 'corrupt' the 2016 presidential election and then tried to cover it up, prosecutors alleged at the start of his blockbuster hush money trial in New York.

In court Trump fumed and shook his head as he was accused of lying 'over and over and over again' to conceal an alleged scheme to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels with an illegal $130,000 payment.

He was also forced to listen as a full transcript of the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape was read aloud to the jury. 

Prosecutors detailed how Trump, aided by allies including the National Enquirer, used a 'catch and kill' scheme to buy the rights to damaging stories about his private life.

Those stories, including Daniels' allegations of an affair, were then not published, and business records were falsified to make the payments, it was alleged.

In opening statements, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told a packed Manhattan courtroom: 'This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up. The defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.

'Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again.'

He added: 'It was election fraud, pure and simple.'

Former US President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, New York, USA, 22 April 2024

Former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story was bought in a 'catch and kill' scheme, prosecutors said, and she could be a witness in the blockbuster trial

Todd Blanche, Trump's attorney, told the jury the former president had 'nothing to do with' paying Daniels, and it was handled by a bookkeeper.

He also indicated that Trump would continue to deny the porn star's claims that she had a relationship with the former president.

Blanche added: 'There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election, it’s called democracy.' 

He also accused Daniels of trying to 'extort' Trump. Blanche said: 'She saw her chance to make a lot of money, $130,000, and it worked. Her testimony, whilst salacious, does not matter.'

Blanche told the jury: 'Use your common sense. We’re New Yorkers. It’s why we’re here.'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump watches as his attorney Todd Blanche makes opening statements during Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Earlier, Judge Juan Merchan spent 30 minutes giving instructions to the jury, telling them Trump was 'presumed innocent.' 

He told them: 'Members of the jury, we are about to proceed with the trial of the people of the state of New York vs Donald J Trump.' 

Trump is the first ever former U.S. president to be a defendant in a criminal trial.

He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, which caries a possible maximum four-year jail sentence.

The charges relate to a hush money scheme aimed at preventing damaging stories about his personal life, including an alleged affair with Daniels, from becoming public before the 2016 election.

Hearing the case is a jury of five women and seven men. It includes two corporate lawyers, a security engineer, an investment banker and a speech therapist.

Former US President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, New York, USA, 22 April 2024

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo makes opening arguments as former U.S. President Donald Trump watches with his attorney Todd Blanche before Justice Juan Merchan during Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to attend his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs in New York, on April 22, 2024

In his opening statement Colangelo detailed to the jury how a 'catch and kill' scheme was used to suppress bad stories about Trump ahead of the election.

He said: 'It’s a way of buying damaging information not to publish it, but to hide it, make it go away.'

The prosecutor said a 'catch and kill' operation was carried out by the National Enquirer to buy the story of Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleged she had and affair with Trump.

David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, who was a decades-long friend of Trump, is the first witness in the case.

Donald Trump and David Pecker have been friends for decades

David Pecker, the media boss who will be the first witness

Colangelo said a $130,000 'catch and kill' payment to Daniels was made by Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer and 'fixer'.

He said it was made 'at Donald Trump’s direction and for his benefit, and he did it with the specific goal of influencing the outcome of the election.'

The prosecutor added; 'The evidence at trial will show this was not spin or strategy, this was a planned, coordinated long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election, to help Donald Trump get elected through illegal expenditures.

'To silence people who had something bad to say about his behavior, using doctored corporate records.'

Specifically, those records related to how Trump repaid the $130,000 to Cohen, which was done in 12 monthly installments.

Trump attorney Alina Habba speaks to the media outside of court during opening statements in Former President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 22, 2024 in New York City

Donald Trump speaks after hush money trial wraps for the day April 22 2024

The 34 counts against Trump consist of 11 falsified invoices, 12 falsified ledger entries and 11 falsified checks, Colangelo said.

Blanche, for Trump, said Cohen was 'obsessed' with the former president and 'his entire financial livelihood depends on President Trump’s destruction.'

He added: 'Unbeknownst to President Trump, in all the years that Mr Cohen worked for him, Mr Cohen was also a criminal. 

'You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump relying on the words of Michael Cohen.'

Under the agreement with Pecker, the Enquirer acted as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Trump 2016 campaign, the court heard.

Mr Colangelo said: 'Mr Pecker would use his network of sources to gather information that might be harmful to the Trump candidacy, report that information to Cohen so Donald Trump could prevent it from becoming public.' 

The National Enquirer also published negative stories about Trump's 2016 rivals.

That included accusing Ben Carson of medical malpractice and suggesting the father of Ted Cruz had links to the man who assassinated President John F Kennedy.

Colangelo said: ‘Many of those headline and stories were shown to Cohen and the defendant in advance so the defendant could review them, request changes, accept or reject publication’.

Trump even got to choose the cover art for the National Enquirer, the court heard.

In his opening statement Colangelo detailed how Trump's campaign had been 'turned upside down' by the release of the Access Hollywood tape one month before the election..

He then read a transcript of the hot mic tape in which Trump bragged that ‘when you’re a star you can do anything’.

Reading Trump’s words, Colanglo said: ‘Grab ‘em by the p****, you can do anything’

Trump did not appear to react.

Stormy Daniels, the porn star who received a $130,000 payment from Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen

Key witness Michael Cohen who is Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer

A day after the tape came out the National Enquirer was in contact with Trump's orbit to inform them Daniels was interested in selling a story about an alleged affair with Trump.

Colangelo said: ‘Cohen discussed this situation with Trump who was adamant he didn’t want this story to come out.’

'Another story about a sexual infidelity, especially with a porn star, on the heels of the Access Hollywood tape would have been devastating to his campaign

‘At Trump’s direction, Cohen negotiated a deal to prevent American voters from learning that information before election day.'

A shell company was set up so it was ‘harder to track paying Daniels, Colangelo said.

Trump would pay Cohen back as part of the arrangement, the jury heard.

Colangelo said: ‘Cohen walked across the street he opened a bank account in the name of a company called Essential Consultants LLC.

‘He transferred $131,000 from the home equity line of credit on his own home into the shell company’s account

‘The next day Cohen wired $130,000 to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer to keep her quiet. He did it with the specific goal of influencing the 2016 election

‘We’ll never know if this was the difference maker in a close election.' 

Trump later invited Pecker to the White House after he took office to express his gratitude, the prosecutor said.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump watches as his attorney Todd Blanche makes opening statements during Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Earlier, Trump walked in at the head of his defense team, shoulders slightly stooped. He took his seat at the front of the court, facing a wall of 20ft high wood paneling, inscribed with 'In God We Trust.' 

The former president, wearing a navy suit and light blue tie, sat at the defense table with his lawyer Todd Blanche, briefly shaking his head and laughing to himself. 

The courtroom on the 15th floor of the Manhattan Criminal Court was packed with journalists and members of the public. 

Six rows of journalists were seated on hard wooden benches behind the defendant. The court has a scuffed, tiled floor and has been modified for the trial, with four large video screens.

Aides accompanying Trump in court included Natalie Harp, Karoline Leavitt and Jason Miller.

Before the jury was brought in Judge Merchan ruled that prosecutors could question him about a $364 million fine recently handed down to him in a separate civil business fraud case.

That led Trump to shake his head in clear frustration. 

The opening statements are expected to give jurors and the voting public the clearest view yet of the allegations at the heart of the case.

Attorneys will also introduce a colorful cast of characters who are expected to testify about the saga.

They include Daniels, McDougal, and Cohen, who is expected to be the key witness.

Trump supporters rally outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22, 2024

Trump supporters wrote messages outside the court

Trump arrived at the courthouse shortly before 9am minutes after castigating the case in capital letters on social media.

He called it "election interference" and a "witch hunt."

Being convicted would not bar Trump from becoming president again.

However, because it is a state case he would not be able to attempt to pardon himself if found guilty.

The trial will require him to spend weeks in a courtroom rather than on the campaign trail.

A Trump supporter outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22, 2024

Writing on Truth Social shortly before arriving at court he complained about being "stuck" in the trial.

He will be forcedto listen as witnesses recount salacious and potentially unflattering details about his private life.

Trump has sought to turn his criminal defendant status into an asset for his campaign.

He has been using it to fundraise and to railing against a justice system he claims is weaponized against him.

The case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.