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Trump’s historic New York hush money trial begins with jury selection

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Trump’s historic New York hush money trial begins with jury selection

Trump’s historic New York hush money trial begins with jury selection

Donald Trump would become the first former president in U.S. history to stand trial on criminal charges when jury selection begins on Monday in New York.

The trial of the case stemmed from payments made to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump, who was the 45th president of the U.S. is set for an election rematch with incumbent President Joe Biden coming this November.

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme involving his former lawyer Michael Cohen to conceal the 130,000 dollars pay-off made to Stormy Daniels.

Daniels said the money was given to keep her quiet about an affair she had with Trump in 2006.

He has admitted to paying her on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her “false and extortionist accusations’’ but denied any sexual encounter.

Trump’s lawyers made several unsuccessful attempts to have the hush money trial delayed; a tactic they have also used in the former president’s three other ongoing criminal cases.

The process of selecting a jury in New York, a heavily Democratic city, could take several days, with potentially hundreds of people ultimately whittled down to just 12 jurors and six alternates.

The whole trial, in which Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify for the prosecution, could last up to eight weeks.

Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, faces a maximum of four years behind bars if convicted.

At a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, he told reporters he was ready to take the stand to defend himself.

“I’m testifying. I tell the truth’’, Trump said, although it was far from certain the Republican real estate tycoon would undertake such a high-risk legal strategy.

In any case, Trump’s campaign for the presidency would collide with his courtroom obligations.

He was required to be present every day of the historic trial, which is sure to generate a frenzy of media coverage.

Trump’s legal entanglements were extensive.

The most serious are his four criminal indictments in four different cities.

Besides the New York case, two involve his alleged efforts to keep himself in power after Biden defeated him in 2020 and other concerns the retention of classified documents after leaving office.

The three other trials don’t have firm start dates.

Trump has been dealt with major blows in two New York civil lawsuits.

One is accusing him and his organisation of committing fraud and another of defaming magazine columnist E Jean Carroll when he denied her claims of sexual assault.

Trump owed more than half a billion dollars in legal penalties in the combined cases.

Trump claimed, without evidence, that he was a victim of political persecution orchestrated by Democrats to keep him from the White House.

Even if he was convicted, the Constitution did not prevent a felon from running for the presidency.

Trump and Biden remain locked in a neck-and-neck race.

(dpa/NAN)

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FRSC warns truck drivers against speeding, reckless driving

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Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Area Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Division, Lagos State, has warned truck drivers against speeding and reckless driving.

He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeju-Lekki on Tuesday.

The FRSC official, who blamed speeding on the ghastly vehicle accident that occurred at Aiyetoro market in Epe
which claimed several lives and left some injured, said that with careful driving, such accident could be avoided.

He added that “the accident was as a result of speeding, reckless driving and loading of truck beyond its capacity.

“All these are factors responsible for accident when drivers are not conscious of the driving rules.

“Vehicle can develop technical fault at any time, therefore, speed limit and caution need to be applied while driving.”

He said FRSC had been sensitising drivers on the need to install speed limit device and be road conscious while driving, in line with the mandate to instill decent use of road.

Ibitomi also advised passers-by and the public to be safety conscious while walking on roadsides to avoid falling victim of accidents.

He attributed major road crashes on roads to speed limit violation, urging drivers to respect the sanctity of human life by obeying traffic rules.

He added that the FRSC had evolved measures to ensure accident-free yuletide and new year festivities in 2024

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.

At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”

“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”

Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.

“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.

In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.

As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.

“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.

Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”

While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.

“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.

The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.

The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.

Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.

Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”

Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.

Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”

The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.

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