Trump trial in New York kicks off today in a historic first for a former president

The first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history is getting underway Monday in a crowded Manhattan courtroom, with both sides preparing for the arduous task of seating a 12-person jury in the case of The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump.

Flanked by his attorneys in room 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Court, Trump is seated at a table where countless defendants before him have appeared. The presumptive Republican nominee for president addressed reporters outside the courtroom before making his way inside.

“This is really an attack on a political opponent. That’s all it is,” Trump said. “So I’m very honored to be here.”

The case is the first of four criminal prosecutions against Trump to make it to trial. He is charged with 34 state counts of falsifying business records related to a “hush money” payment his attorney made to an adult film star before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming the prosecution is part of a plot by Democrats aimed at preventing him from retaking the White House.