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Barring any last minute delays, Donald Trump is set to appear at a Manhattan courthouse on Monday for the historic start of his first criminal trial.

The case involves his alleged falsification of business records to cover up a hush-money payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The trial will mark the first time in history that an ex-President is criminally prosecuted in court, and could take Trump away from the campaign trail for more than a month as he runs for a return to the White House.

Trump faces 34 felony counts in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has accused Trump of doctoring financial records of his companies and orchestrating a scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and accused Bragg of carrying out a politically motivated witch hunt against him.

The unprecedented case is the first of Trumps four criminal cases to go to trialand may be the only one to wrap up before the November election. The trial is expected to last six weeks, starting with jury selection on Monday. Prospective jurors will be asked if they have ever attended one of Trumps rallies, if they belong to groups like the Proud Boys or Antifa, or if they volunteered with a political entity associated with the former President, according to a letter the judge provided attorneys.

Heres what to know about Trumps hush-money trial.

Prosecutors will attempt to prove that Trump is guilty of maintaining false business records with the intent to hide a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress who claimed she had a sexual encounter with him in 2006. The payments allegedly were made to keep Daniels from speaking publicly about the affair in the final weeks of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison for each of the 34 charges against him. While paying hush money is not always illegal, prosecutors allege that Trump reimbursed his then-lawyer Michael Cohen in a series of installment payments processed by his business, which prosecutors say were fraudulently disguised as corporate legal expenses in violation of New York law.

Under New York law, falsifying business records is usually a misdemeanor but it can become a felony when there is an intent to defraud that includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal another crime. Bragg has said that the alleged payment scheme was intended to cover up violations of New York election law, which makes it a crime to conspire to illegally promote a candidate. He also said the $130,000 payment exceeded the federal campaign contribution cap and violated state tax laws.

The charges Trump faces are all considered class E felonies in New York, the lowest tier of felony charges in the state. Prosecutors will need to show that Trump not only falsified or caused business records to be entered falsely, but that he did so to conceal another crime.

The trial is not expected to be televised since New York state is one of three jurisdictions that does not permit audio-visual coverage of trial-court proceedings. Federal judges sometimes make an exception to this long-standing rule barring cameras from their courtrooms, but the judge presiding over the hush-money case has already rejected past media requests for greater access and appears unlikely to change course.

Pictures of Trump in the courtroom, however, may be allowed. When Trump was arraigned in Manhattan last April, Judge Juan Merchan permitted photographers to record still images before the arraignment but ruled that they would have to leave once the arraignment began. He also approved TV cameras in the hallways of the Manhattan courthouse, but said reporters would not be allowed to carry electronic recording devices into the courtroom or overflow rooms, claiming that cameras could disrupt the dignity and decorum of the court and put the safety of those involved at risk.

Under New York state law, Trump is required to attend his entire criminal trial in person, potentially limiting his ability to travel outside of the state as he campaigns for President. The trial is expected to last up to six weeks, depending on how long jury selection takes and whether the judge opts for half-day proceedings or days off to attend other cases.

But Trump may receive some leniency from the judge. The same day he is set to appear in court for the start of the trial, Trump is also scheduled to be deposed in one of the civil lawsuits stemming from the merger of his social media startup with a so-called blank check company. Judge Merchan could allow Trump to miss part of the hush-money trial to attend the deposition.

In the past, Trump has chosen to appear at some court proceedings he wasn't required to attend, often holding press conferences with reporters outside the courtrooms. Hes used those appearances to amplify both his campaign messages and his assertion that all of the charges he faces are politically motivated.

Daniels and Cohen are both expected to take the stand as witnesses for the prosecution, with Braggs office hoping that Cohen can directly tie Trump to the false business records.

Other witnesses could include Karen McDougala former Playboy model who received a $150,000 payment from the National Enquirer for rights to her story about an alleged affair with Trumpand members of Trumps inner circle, including his longtime assistant Rhona Graff, his former director of Oval Office operations Madeleine Westerhout, and former campaign and White House aide Hope Hicks.

Trumps lawyers are expected to attempt to undermine Cohens testimony by noting that he pleaded guilty to a variety of federal crimes in 2018including for his role in the hush-money paymentand that he and Trump had a falling out many years ago.

Its unclear if Trump will take the stand in his own defense, or if his lawyers will call any witnesses.

If Trump is convicted, he could face a sentence of up to four years in New York prison for each chargea maximum of 136 years. And since falsifying business records is a state crime, only the New York governorKathy Hochul, a Democratcould pardon him.

But given Trumps age, 77, lack of a prior conviction, the fact that hes the first former President to ever be criminally tried, and that he may become President again, legal experts say theres no guarantee that a conviction would result in jail time. The judge is not required to imprison Trump if hes convicted by a jury; most first-time offenders in non-violent cases are often sentenced to probation, and Trumps unique position could raise a host of extraordinary issues and considerations in sentencing.

Trump can still run for President if hes convictedor even inside a jail cellthough it would entail a range of unprecedented and untested legal questions if he wins the election after being convicted of a crime.

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Donald Trumps Hush-Money Trial: What to Know - TIME

The captivity of the pro-life movement to the character of Donald Trump is a crucial aspect of contemporary abortion politics. But maybe not quite in the way suggested by Trumps decision this week to publicly distance himself from his pro-life supporters by refusing to endorse national restrictions on late-term abortions.

That refusal was a sign of the anti-abortion movements political weakness but not necessarily a major blow to its cause. The contemplated legislation was unlikely to pass the Senate no matter what stance Trump took, and positioning the G.O.P. as a defender of state-based regulation usefully focuses abortion opponents on their most important challenge: defending the abortion restrictions that are already on the books in conservative states, and finding ways to win over the voters who have turned against the pro-life side in every post-Dobbs referendum with Arizona looming as the next battleground now that its Supreme Court has upheld an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions.

The problem for pro-lifers is that these efforts at persuasion have become markedly less effective over a timeline that overlaps closely with Trumps takeover of the Republican Party. The captivity of abortion opponents, in this sense, isnt about the specific policy stances that Trump might choose and that they might then have to reluctantly accept. Its about the ways in which a Trumpist form of conservatism seems inherently to make Americans more pro-choice.

For most of my lifetime, public opinion on abortion was fairly stable, leaning pro-choice but with a strong pro-life minority and a lot of people in the middle expressing support for some restrictions but not others. But since the mid-2010s there has been a clear shift in favor of abortion rights: More Americans support abortion without restriction that at any point since Roe v. Wade was handed down.

You can tell various stories about these numbers that do not implicate Trump himself. For instance, America has become notably less Christian and less socially conservative, and maybe it stands to reason that as the country turned left on issues like same-sex marriage or marijuana legalization, it would swing left on abortion as well.

Or again, it was clear that Roe was threatened well before Dobbs was issued, so maybe it was the prospect of abortion being back in the political arena that focused the minds of abortion moderates and made them more solidly pro-choice.

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Opinion | How the Pro-Life Movements Deal With Trump Made America More Pro-Choice - The New York Times

Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer whose pitched battles with former President Donald J. Trumps supporters on and after Jan. 6, 2021, vaulted him to political stardom, was greeted Tuesday evening in Annapolis, Md., like a celebrity.

But there was also an undercurrent of skepticism among attendees at the Beacon Waterfront Restaurant, where he appeared at a campaign event to bolster his candidacy for the U.S. House.

We have a person here with a proven legislative record, Jessica Sunshine, an Annapolis Democrat, told Mr. Dunn, referring to State Senator Sarah Elfreth, his main opponent in next months Democratic primary. But, she added, You have heart.

But Mr. Dunn, an imposing former offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-7-inches and 325 pounds, didnt shy away from the reason he is running: to save what he sees as democracy on the edge. This moment, right now? It calls for a fighter, he said.

He is not the only one making that case to Democrats.

Over the next three months, primaries in three Mid-Atlantic House districts from the exurbs of Washington, D.C., to Harrisburg, Pa. will test the strength of Jan. 6 memories and whether the battle cry of save democracy will be enough even for Democratic voters who have many other concerns.

For many voters, partisan celebrity is virtually the only factor in their support for candidates like Mr. Dunn, who played a starring role in the Jan. 6 hearings, and Yevgeny Vindman, who goes by Eugene and along with his identical twin brother, Alexander, played a key role in highlighting Mr. Trumps effort to strong-arm Ukraine into digging up dirt on Joseph R. Biden Jr.

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'Save Democracy' Democrats Look to Win Primaries on Anti-Trump Sentiment - The New York Times

A decision by Arizonas highest court upholding an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions created chaos and confusion across the state on Wednesday. As abortion providers were flooded with phone calls from frantic patients, Republican lawmakers at the State Capitol blocked efforts to undo the ban, prompting angry jeers from Democrats.

Democrats, who seized on the decision to resurrect the 160-year-old ban as a pivotal election issue, tried to push bills through the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the ban, a move they said would protect womens health and freedom, and also force Republicans to take a formal vote on the law.

But Republican leaders in the Senate removed one bill from the days agenda on Wednesday, legislative aides said. In the House, a Republican lawmaker who had called for striking down the law made a motion to vote on a Democratic repeal bill that has sat stalled for months. But Republican leaders quickly scuttled that effort by calling for a recess, and later adjourned until next Wednesday.

Democrats on the Senate floor yelled Shame! and Save womens lives! as their Republican colleagues filed out of the chamber.

I dont see why we wouldnt move forward, said State Senator Anna Hernandez, Democrat of Phoenix. Are they serious about this or are they not? she said of the Republicans. Are they just backpedaling when they realize theyre on the losing side of a policy battle?

Despite the pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to undo the law, it was uncertain whether Republican leaders, who narrowly control both chambers of the Legislature, would allow any immediate action on proposals to repeal the ban.

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Arizona Republicans Thwart Attempts to Repeal 1864 Abortion Ban - The New York Times

FAYETTEVILLE -- The worst-kept secret in college basketball became official early Wednesday when John Calipari was announced as the new men's coach at the University of Arkansas.

It had been widely reported since Monday that Calipari, Kentucky's coach the previous 15 seasons, would take the Arkansas job and replace Eric Musselman, who resigned last Thursday after five seasons to become Southern Cal's coach.

Calipari's hiring became official when the Arkansas Board of Trustees met Wednesday in Little Rock -- some members in person and some via Zoom -- and voted unanimously to approve his contract.

Calipari, 65, has signed a five-year contract with a salary beginning at $7 million per season, according to the Arkansas news release.

The contract runs through April 30, 2029, with a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances that would extend the contract to 2031. The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus and retention bonuses of $500,000 each year of the contract, along with one-time bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round, Sweet 16, Final Four and winning a national championship.

Calipari, who had an annual salary of $8.5 million at Kentucky, is the highest-paid Arkansas coach ever in any sport. Musselman was paid $4.2 million.

Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks' football coach, has an annual salary of $5.25 million.

"The financial [commitment] is significant, but our program is worth it," Kelly Eichler, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, said when asked about Calipari's salary. "What he will bring to the Arkansas program is worth the expenditure and we're happy to do it.

"I want to say thank you to many people who are contributing and their support for the program is unmatched. So we're very excited."

Calipari led Kentucky to a 410-123 record with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Final Fours and the 2012 national championship. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

"It's an exciting day for the University of Arkansas and the state of Arkansas as we welcome Coach John Calipari as our new men's basketball coach," Razorbacks Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek told the board members via Zoom.

News of Arkansas being in serious talks with Calipari broke on Sunday, and his impending move from SEC rival Kentucky became a national sports story.

"I know when I walked the campus the past couple of days there's been a buzz in the air," said UA Chancellor Charles Robinson, who also joined the board meeting via Zoom. "I know there's a lot of excitement out on the campus about this hire."

Board member Ted Dickey assisted Yurachek in finding the Razorbacks' new coach.

"It was a weekend I'll never forget, and probably one our program will never forget either," Dickey said. "During the search process I learned two things: One is that in conversations with coaches across the country, they actually believe we have a top-10 program. I think most of us already believed that anyway.

"The second thing is that we really have an outstanding athletic director. Hunter is well respected, well connected and tireless -- and he can survive on very little sleep."

Board member Kevin Crass thanked UA lawyers David Curran, the general counsel, and Matt McCoy, associate general counsel, for their roles in negotiating Calipari's contract.

Calipari is represented by Tom Mars, an Arkansas law school graduate.

"I had a conversation with [Mars] in which he said he's dealt with a lot of lawyers in Power 5 conferences, and he can't imagine lawyers better than those that represent the University of Arkansas," Crass said. "Unfortunately, athletics has gotten enmeshed in legal issues and I think it's a great comfort, to me at least as a board member who understands good lawyering -- I don't do it, but I can recognize it -- that [the UA] has world-class legal representation.

"Normally I think these deals are done so quickly that you have a term sheet, and then over the course of time, disputes often arise between that term sheet and that final contract. And these lawyers worked extraordinarily hard over the weekend to get a complex document prepared and sent to us, and I think they should be thanked and recognized for that."

The search officially ended six days after Musselman resigned.

"It was fast, it was very fluid," Eichler said. "One minute we were talking to one person, and then talking to another. And for the financial situation, we had to get a commitment from donors who are excited about Coach Calipari. We're thrilled with where we ended up."

Calipari is one of two coaches to lead three programs to Finals Fours along with Rick Pitino.

Before Calipari's four Final Four appearances at Kentucky, he led Massachusetts and Memphis to Final Fours.

Pitino, now the coach at St. John's, led Providence, Kentucky and Louisville to the Final Four.

"By all accounts, John Calipari is one of the premier coaches in college basketball," Yurachek said in a news release. "A national championship coach, a four-time national coach of the year and one of the nation's top recruiters, Coach Cal has consistently demonstrated his ability to attract outstanding talent and build championship teams within the Southeastern Conference and position his programs among the best in the nation.

"As I visited with Coach Calipari during this process, he acknowledged the tremendous opportunity we have at the University of Arkansas to attract and retain top players and compete for championships. He understands the deep passion of the Razorback Nation and has experienced the tremendous home court advantage of Bud Walton Arena.

"I have no doubt that under Coach Calipari's leadership and with the collective support of all those who love the Hogs, Razorback Basketball will continue to maintain its national prominence within college basketball," Yurachek said.

Calipari's on-court record is 855-263 in 32 seasons. He has coached 58 NBA Draft picks, including 21 first-rounders. This season 28 of his former players have been on NBA rosters.

"His resume is incredible," Eichler said. "We couldn't ask for anyone with more experience, or more quality experience. We're excited to have him here at Arkansas."

Eichler was a cheerleader at Arkansas when Nolan Richardson became the Razorbacks' coach for the 1985-86 season. Richardson led Arkansas to its only national championship in basketball in 1994.

"It's exciting to me to see our program progress," Eichler said. "I just think we have all new heights to go to with Coach Calipari."

Musselman led Arkansas to a 111-59 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including Elite Eight appearances in 2021 and 2022 and the Sweet 16 in 2023 before this season's team finished 16-17.

Prior to 2021, Arkansas hadn't advanced as far as the Elite Eight since 1995 when the defending national champion Razorbacks reached the title game again and lost to UCLA.

"I want to say thank you to Coach Musselman for raising the profile of the program," Eichler said. "We're very pleased with where we are currently.

"There's only so far to go up, so we're excited to have Coach Calipari to go through new horizons."

Information for this article was contributed by Sam Lane of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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Calipari officially joins UA - Arkansas Online