Opening arguments in 1. trump crim.trial

The opening arguments in the 1. trump criminal trial:
x Prosecutors say …
Trump schemed "to corrupt the 2016 presidential election": The district attorney’s office framed the case for jurors as illegal payments to try to influence illicitly influence the 2016 election that Trump then tried to illegally cover up by falsifying business records. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo walked the jury through Trump’s efforts, along with Michael Cohen and former American Media Inc., chief David Pecker, to keep damaging information from coming to light during the 2016 election.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo began his opening statement by focusing on the case, telling the jury it is “about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up.” He outlined a timeline, including when the hush money payments began and claimed that the payment was to “influence the presidential election.”
Colangelo also read some of Trump’s words from the “Access Hollywood” tape and said the Trump campaign went into “damage control mode” when it was released. The judge previously ruled the audio of the tape would not be allowed to be played as evidence, but prosecutors could use emails describing what happened. Trump sat back and did not look at the prosecutor during Colangelo’s opening statement.
x Defense says 
Donald Trump is innocent: Defense attorney Todd Blanche began his opening statement with a simple assertion: “Donald Trump is innocent.” Blanche told the jury that the story isn’t as simple as prosecutors laid out and argued that Trump was not involved with any of the business records he’s accused of falsifying beyond signing the checks. 
Blanche didn’t dispute the paper trail existed, but he argued to the jury there was nothing illegal about signing non-disclosure agreements — or trying to influence an election.
He acknowledged Stormy Daniels did sign an NDA in October 2016 in exchange for $130,000, but suggested that the payments to Cohen "were not a payback." He also reiterated that entering into a non-disclosure agreement is “perfectly legal” and that Daniels' affair allegations were an attempt to embarrass him. 
Blanche also talked through some of the expected witnesses at the trial, especially Michael Cohen. Trump’s attorney argued Cohen’s “financial livelihood depends on President Trump’s destruction." Trump adjusted his chair to turn and watch Blanche as he was talking.
x
The New York state court system has just agreed to publish a transcript of each day’s proceeding by the end of the following day on its website. 
You can find the daily transcripts here:
* https://ww2.nycourts.gov/people-v-donald-j-trump-criminal-37026
=== Weblinks === 
* NBC: Attorneys present opening statements in Trump hush money trial. 22 Apr 2024, correspondent-video 5 Min