Jury in, Trump trial to hear closing arguments before deliberations
Fact: New York prosecutors and Donald Trump’s lawyers made closing arguments at his hush money trial, where he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Trump trial
Trump trial tests his campaign strategy of embracing bad publicity
Donald Trump is facing a hush money trial in New York and is using the media attention to amplify his claims of persecution. He is meeting with foreign dignitaries at Trump Tower, making staged visits to locations like a convenience store in Harlem, and posting on his Truth Social platform. Despite the trial, Trump has not had any campaign rallies but is planning some in battleground states. The trial could carry political risks for Trump, as opinion polls show some Republican voters may turn against him if he becomes a convicted felon. The Biden White House is seeking to draw a contrast between Trump and Biden, with Trump accusing the trial of being a witch hunt on his social media platform. Foreign dignitaries have visited Trump at Trump Tower, and he has made efforts to engage in major issues like the war in Ukraine.
Trump group spends big on legal fees; Biden leads at fundraising
Donald Trump’s political group, Save America, spent .6 million on lawyer fees in March, draining the finances supporting his White House bid. The group, largely funded by small donors, has clawed back million from a super PAC, reducing funds available for TV ads supporting Trump. Since the start of 2023, Save America has spent over million on lawyer fees for Trump’s four criminal trials. Trump is facing charges related to falsifying business records, mishandling classified documents, and a civil fraud judgment. Despite raising million in March, Trump’s campaign still lags behind Biden in fundraising, with Biden’s campaign ending the month with million in the bank compared to Trump’s million. Trump has been holding fundraising events to court big donors, helping the Republican Party raise over million in March.
Man dies after setting self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man died after setting himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush-money trial was taking place, but officials said he was not targeting Trump. The man, identified as Max Azzarello, did not mention Trump in pamphlets he threw before setting himself on fire. The incident occurred after jury selection for the trial was completed, with 12 jurors and six alternates set to consider evidence in the case. Trump is accused of covering up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.