Opening statements and first witness on tap for Trump hush money trial NBC Connecticut [Video]

Opening statements are set to begin Monday morning in the case of the People of the State of New York versus Donald Trump, the first criminal trial of a former president.

The trial’s first witness is also expected to take the stand, though cross-examination is likely to take place later in the week.

Attorneys on both sides will present their opening statements after the judge delivers instructions to the 12-person jury and six alternates, NBC News reported.

Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office are expected to lay out what they’ve called an “illegal conspiracy” designed “to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.”

They allege Trump worked with his then-attorney Michael Cohen and executives at the National Enquirer to suppress scandalous stories, including from adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Daniels says she slept with Trump in 2006, and McDougal says she had a 10-month sexual relationship …