Former US President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 15, 2024. Trump is in court Monday as the first US ex-president ever to be criminally prosecuted, a seismic moment for the United States as the presumptive Republican nominee campaigns to re-take the White House. The scandal-plagued 77-year-old is accused of falsifying business records in a scheme to cover up an alleged sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels to shield his 2016 election campaign from adverse publicity. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / POOL / AFP)
A quick recap of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow
Jury selection is underway in former President Trump‘s criminal hush money trial.
Hundreds of people from Manhattan have been called up for jury duty in a process that could take several days, before the meat of the trial starts. The potential jurors are first being vetted for any potential biases or other reasons they will not be able to serve.
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to conceal an alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump, who is the first former president to face federal criminal charges, has denied any wrongdoing.
Before jury selection could get underway, Judge Juan Merchanagain declined to recuse himself from the trial, refusing Trump’s argument that Merchan’s daughter has worked for a firm that deals with prominent Democrats.
Trump is under a gag order in the case, but he’s continually violated it by posting to his Truth Social platform, frequently attacking various players.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is seeking a fine that could be levied against Trump over his inflammatory social media posts.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroyasked that Trump be fined $1,000 for each post and be reminded he can be jailed if he violates the order.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche argued Trump hasn’t violated the order because he was merely “responding to salacious, repeated, vehement attacks by these witnesses.”
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The Supreme Court has declined an appeal from Mike Lindell, a Trump ally and founder of My Pillow, regarding the seizure of his phone in an identify theft case.
Kirby: Claim Iran gave US warning about Israel attack ‘ridiculous’
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby shot back at reports that Iranian officials had given the United States advance notice of its attacks against Israel over the weekend.
“This whole narrative out there that Iran passed us a message with what they were gonna do is ridiculous,” Kirby told reporters Monday.
Iran led a largely unfruitful attack against Israel on Saturday, launching hundreds of drones and missiles in response to an Israeli strike against an Iranian compound in Syria. But most of Iran’s munitions were destroyed by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
President Biden spoke Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the attack, vowing “ironclad” support for Israel.
“Together with our partners, we defeated that attack,” Biden told reporters Monday during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (The Hill)
The White House also has said that any standalone Israel aid package would be a nonstarter, after a previous Israel funding proposal failed in the House.
House to send Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate on Tuesday
House Republican impeachment managers will send the Senate articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill — two months after the House narrowly approved the impeachment resolution.
GOP lawmakers are accusing Mayorkas of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” as well as “breach of public trust,” related to immigration and the U.S. Southern border.
The handoff will officially force the Senate to take up the matter.
Senators are expected to be sworn in as jurors Wednesday, with Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-Wash.) presiding over the chamber.
Impeachment requires demonstrating that an official has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors.” But immigration law experts have said Mayorkas hasn’t been proven to have broken the law. (The Hill)
FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse
The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, according to multiple media reports.
The criminal investigation, first reported by The Washington Post, which cited two unnamed U.S. officials familiar with the matter, will look into whether the massive container ship that struck the bridge left the port knowing it had serious problems.
The Associated Press confirmed through an unnamed source that the federal probe is focused on the circumstances leading up to the bridge’s collapse and whether any laws were broken.
Six road construction workers died when the cargo ship Dali crashed into the bridge.
“The FBI is present aboard the cargo ship Dali conducting court authorized law enforcement activity,” the FBI said in a statement to The Hill. (The Hill)
Justice Thomas absent from Supreme Court’s Monday session with no explanation
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas missed the court’s Monday session with no explanation.
Thomas, 75, did not participate remotely in arguments, as justices sometimes do when they are ill or otherwise can’t attend in person.
Chief Justice John Roberts announced Thomas’s absence, saying that his colleague would still participate in the day’s cases, based on the briefs and transcripts of the arguments. He did not elaborate on why Thomas had to miss the hearing. (The Associated Press)
OP-EDS IN THE HILL
“The Republican Party’s influence is the story of the century,”writesJohn Kenneth White, politics professor at The Catholic University of America.
“British government workers revolt against return-to-office mandates,” writes Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, CEO of the hybrid work consultancy firm Disaster Avoidance Experts.
⏲️ COUNTDOWN
90 days until the Republican National Convention.
125 days until the Democratic National Convention.
203 days until the 2024 general election.
🗓 COMING NEXT
Tuesday: President Biden has two campaign events in Scranton, Pa.
Vice President Harris will appear on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
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