NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump began his day as a criminal defendant lashing out at the judge and prosecutors, casting himself as a victim and angrily posting on social media.
In other words: a familiar routine.
But inside the courtroom, which was closed to TV cameras, Trump was a different man — reserved and muted in a stark departure from his feisty approach to other legal troubles.
The contrast spoke to the gravity of his situation. Trump is now the first former president ever to stand trial on criminal charges and faces the prospect, if he loses, of becoming the first major American presidential candidate in history to run as a convicted felon.
Trump is accused in the case of falsifying business records to hide alleged hush money payments made to a porn star to keep her from going public during his 2016 campaign with allegations of an affair.
Palace rout demoralized Man United 4
Matthews scores as Maple Leafs beat Bruins 3
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secures ballot access in Michigan
Australian boy killed by police was in deradicalization program since causing school explosion
Warwick Davis will in new project with his daughter after death of his wife Samantha
Orioles put outfielder Austin Hays on injured list and cut Peyton Burdick
Defending Cup champion Vegas goes with Thompson in net for Game 1 in Dallas; Stone scores in return
Twyla Tharp dance will open 700
As Blinken heads to China, these are the major divides he will try to bridge
Detroit man sentenced to 80 years for fatal shootings of 2 West Virginia women
Orioles put outfielder Austin Hays on injured list and cut Peyton Burdick