Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Donald Trump has entered the courtroom. He looked around the room as he made his way to the front.
The former president is joined by his attorneys, as well as numerous associates and Secret Service.
Eric Trump and attorney Alina Habba are seated together in the first row, immediately behind Trump. Behind them in the second row, which is completely full, are Trump's legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, Natalie Harp, and J.D. Vance.
Sen. J.D. Vance, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis arrive for former President Donald Trump's trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 13, 2024.
Spencer Platt/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Campaign team members Jason Miller and Karoline Levitt are seated in the very back of the courtroom.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has also entered the courtroom.
May 13, 2024, 9:17 AM EDT
Prosecutors enter courtroom
Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office have entered the courtroom.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, who is expected to lead Michael Cohen's direct examination, placed a hefty three-inch binder at the lectern before returning to the counsel table.
May 13, 2024, 9:09 AM EDT
Dozens of reporters crammed into courtroom
The courtroom in the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse is packed with reporters and security ahead of Michael Cohen's testimony.
Approximately 70 reporters are crammed into the gallery of the courtroom, seated on wooden benches that seat six per row. Five members of the public are seated in the back of the gallery behind the prosecution counsel table and jury box, and five court officers are scattered throughout the courtroom.
On the right side of the courtroom, earlier witnesses Jaden Jarmel-Schneider and Georgia Longstreet are seated near computer monitors. Both work as paralegals for the Manhattan district attorney's office and testified as part of the prosecution's case.
Jarmel-Schneider introduced phone records and a summary exhibit about the falsified documents into evidence, while Longstreet introduced Trump's social media posts into evidence.
May 13, 2024, 8:58 AM EDT
Members of public wait overnight for seat in courtroom
Several members of the public waited overnight to secure a spot in the courtroom for Michael Cohen's testimony, traveling from as far as Los Angeles for the momentous day in court.
Michael Powers told ABC News that he joined the line at 2:30 p.m. yesterday to secure his spot in court, though he enlisted the help of professional line sitters to hold the spot overnight. He rejoined the line at 5:00 a.m.
"It's history in the making," Powers said. "This isn't gonna happen very often."
Powers said he prioritized seeing Michael Cohen's testimony due to its importance to the prosecution's case.
Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen (C) arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court for the trial of former President Donald Trump in New York City, on May 13, 2024.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
"I find him credible" Powers said. "He's lied in the past, but he lied for Donald Trump in my opinion, so I think he'll be a good witness."
Other members of the public waited overnight without the use of line sitters, including Chris Sagastizabal, who joined the line at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday with two friends.
"I changed my work schedule," Sagastizabal said.
Five members in the public have been seated in the courtroom this morning, with several others seated in a nearby overflow room.