Trump trial: 1st week of testimony ends with testimony from Michael Cohen's former banker
Banker Gary Farro testified in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York.
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 to hide the reimbursement of a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
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What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
Judge denies motion to recuse himself
After attorneys for each side introduced themselves, Judge Juan Merchan said that before jury selection can begin "there are a couple of loose ends we need to go over before we start."
The first item, Merchan said, was a pair of motions filed by Trump's legal team seeking his recusal from the case, citing his past comments in interviews and his daughter's work with a Democrat-affiliated firm.
The motions, Merchan said, cite "pages and pages of screen grabs, articles, social media posts and the like" that amount only to "a series of inferences, innuendos, and unsupported speculation."
To call them "attenuated is an understatement," Merchan said.
Merchan denied the motion and said the court would not address the matter further.
Proceedings are underway
"All rise," the bailiff announced at 9:59 a.m. ET. "This is the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump."
And with that, proceedings are underway.
Members of the prosecution and the defense, including the former president, stood briefly as Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom and took his seat on the bench.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg entered the courtroom shortly before court went into session.
Trump calls trial 'assault on America'
Former President Trump arrived at the courtroom at 9:32 a.m. flanked by members of his legal team.
In brief remarks to reporters on the way in, he called his criminal trial an "assault on America."
"Nothing like this has ever happened before," Trump said, marking his first comments of the day as he becomes the first former American president to face criminal charges.
"There is no case," he said. "This is political persecution."
Trump also attacked President Joe Biden and said the case should not go forward.
Upon entering the courtroom, he sat at the defendant's table as his lawyers and court officers buzzed around him.
Members of DA's team arrive
Several members of the Manhattan district attorney’s office have arrived in the courtroom.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Trump calls day's court proceedings 'breathtaking'
Former President Trump, exiting the courtroom at the end of Day 7 of his trial, called the day's court proceedings "breathtaking."
He specifically remarked on the Supreme Court's hearing this morning on his bid for presidential immunity in his federal election interference case, which Trump was forced to miss due to his criminal trial.
"I heard the meeting was quite amazing. The justices were on their game," Trump said.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano