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The Trump Cases

As hush money trial begins, Trump’s sex life emerges as key theme

Before jurors are questioned, judge spends hours hashing out what a jury should know about allegations involving women other than Stormy Daniels

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Updated April 15, 2024 at 7:58 p.m. EDT|Published April 15, 2024 at 4:01 p.m. EDT
Former president Donald Trump in Manhattan criminal court on Monday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
9 min

NEW YORK — The opening day of Donald Trump’s criminal trial delved deep into his tabloid-fodder sex life, as lawyers and the judge debated how many salacious details jurors should eventually hear as they decide whether he broke the law to cover up hush money payments.

The historic first trial of a former U.S. president began Monday in a storied courthouse that has seen a host of high-profile defendants over the years, from rap stars to movie moguls, but never a case with such potential consequences for the nation and the world.