What Donald Trump's indictments mean for the election and our legal system

WAMU 88.5 | By Anna Casey

Published April 15, 2024 at 6:53 PM EDT

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives ahead of the start of jury selection at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.

We’veneverbeen here before. A former presidentisbeing tried in criminal court while he’s running for reelection.

Donald Trump faces four separate indictments. And only one of them will go to trial before November. That’s a case that got underway yesterday in a Manhattan courtroom with jury selection.Trump is charged with falsifying business documents ahead of the 2016 election to cover up payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

With a former president facing an unprecedented four indictments, what sets this case in New York apart? And what could the treatment of a former president reveal about our legal system more broadly?