Man sets himself on fire outside of Trump's hush-money trial
A man in his 30s set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's hush-money trial was being held. The man, identified as Maxwell Azzarello, doused himself in a liquid before hurling conspiracy-theory leaflets into the air, according to authorities. One of the pamphlets had references to "evil billionaires," but portions that were seen by a Reuters witness did not mention Trump. He died shortly after the incident due to the severe burns he sustained.
Azzarello posted a 2,648-word manifesto online prior
Disturbing video footage from the scene showed Azzarello entirely consumed in flames for several minutes, his burnt body twitching on the ground as shocked bystanders yelled in the background. Prior to the incident, Azzarello posted a 2,648-word manifesto online. In it, he said he had self-immolated as an "extreme act of protest" against a "totalitarian con" and a coming "apocalyptic fascist world coup." Tarik Sheppard, a deputy commissioner with the New York Police Department, characterized Azzarello as a conspiracy theorist.
Visuals from outside the courthouse
Jury selection for trial completed
Inside the courthouse, jury selection for the hush money trial was just being completed, paving the way for prosecutors and defense attorneys to give opening statements on Monday. The 12 jurors, along with six alternates, will hear evidence in a first-ever trial to determine if Trump violated the law. According to Trump's defense lawyer, Susan Necheles, prosecutors plan to bring in at least 20 witnesses.
What is the case about
The case stems from a $130,000 "hush money" payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office allege Daniels received a $130,000 hush money payment in 2016 from Michael Cohen, one of Trump's lawyers, to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter she had with Trump a decade ago. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies any such encounter with Daniels.
