What to know about Trump's hush money trial
- Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial resumed today in New York City for the fourth day. Alternate jurors were selected before the court held what's known as a Sandoval hearing to discuss the scope of the prosecution's cross-examination if Trump decides to testify. Trump later told reporters he will take the stand.
- A man set himself on fire outside the courthouse this afternoon, just before the trial took a break for lunch. The man, whom police identified as Maxwell Azzarello of St. Augustine, Fla., was in the designated protest area.
- Yesterday, state Judge Juan Merchan swore in 12 jurors after dismissing two who were already selected after they raised concerns about personal information that was made public.
- Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election cycle to keep her quiet about her allegation that she and Trump had a sexual encounter. Trump has denied the affair.
- Catch up with what you missed on Day 3.
How Trump tried to control his first week in court
Trump emerged from a Manhattan courtroom Monday ready for a fight.
After day one of a trial that has him facing 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star, the former president stood in front of reporters ready to unleash a grievance-laced tirade that, at times, did not totally reflect reality but guaranteed he would continue to dominate the headlines even from court.
His immediate focus was Judge Juan Merchan’s decision to not yet rule on whether Trump can attend his son Barron’s May 17 high school graduation. Merchan did not say Trump could not go, but rather he was not yet ready to rule on the matter. Specifics aside, however, it gave Trump just enough to paint the picture for his supporters of a biased judge blocking a loving father from seeing his son’s graduation.
Trump’s lawyers used jury consultant to research and help select jurors
The New Yorkers who could decide Trump's fate were vetted in real time today by the former president’s defense team.
As the potential alternate jurors were being questioned by prosecutors seeking to convict Trump of illegally paying hush money to a porn star, and by defense attorneys trying to keep him out of jail, a jury consultant hired by Trump’s legal team was watching the candidates closely for telltale signs of possible bias while simultaneously feeding the defense attorneys her impressions.
Meanwhile, a team of researchers working with the jury consultant were doing social media and other online searches to fill out the picture of every potential juror and sending that information to Trump’s lawyers in the courtroom.
Police 'emptied' fire extinguisher on man who set himself on fire, witness says
An eyewitness said he saw police empty a fire extinguisher on the man who set himself on fire outside of the courthouse this afternoon.
"He was alive and moving when they put him on the ambulance, and they got him out of here pretty quickly," freelance photojournalist Ed Quinn told NBC News in an interview.
Quinn said he was standing alongside the fence at Collect Pond Park near the courthouse when the park filled with smoke, "and then the smoke from the fire extinguisher was billowing around. People were horrified."
New York AG asks judge to void Trump’s bond in his civil fraud verdict
In a separate case, New York Attorney General Letitia James today asked that a judge void Trump's bond in his civil fraud case, questioning whether the company that issued it has the funds to back it up.
In a 26-page filing ahead of a scheduled hearing on Monday, James expressed concern about whether Knight Specialty Insurance Company could secure the $175 million bond. She also argued that the collateral put up by the former president should be under the full control of the company.
One of James’ concerns about KSIC is that the insurer “is not authorized to write business in New York and thus not regulated by the state’s insurance department.” She added that the company “had never before written a surety bond in New York or in the prior two years in any other jurisdiction, and has a total policyholder surplus of just $138 million.”
Trump arrives back at Trump Tower
The former president's motorcade returned to Trump Tower, where he waved to the crowd, shortly after 5 p.m.
Trump says he will testify in hush money trial
On his way out of the courtroom today, Trump was asked whether he will testify in this case.
He answered simply, "Yes."
Trump previously indicated he would take the stand.
State appeals court denies Trump's request to delay trial
Another appeals court has denied Trump's request to delay the hush money trial.
Trump's lawyers filed another appeal of the decision to not move the trial out of Manhattan.
Trump speaks to reporters, reiterates unfounded claims
Trump spoke with reporters after the court was adjourned, reiterating accusations that the trial is a "concerted witch hunt" and repeating unfounded claims that he was being targeted to hurt his campaign.
After this morning complaining to reporters that the case was keeping him stuck in court for weeks, this afternoon Trump complained that the judge was moving too quickly.
Trump also railed against the civil fraud case, also in New York, criticizing New York Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron.
The former president did not answer shouted questions from reporters.
Court adjourns for the weekend
The court adjourned for the day.
Trial proceedings will resume on Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Opening statements will take place on Monday, judge says
Judge Merchan said this afternoon that the trial will move to opening statements on Monday, a timeline he said he was aiming for earlier this week.
“We’re going to have opening statements on Monday morning. This trial is starting," Merchan said.