NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The hush money criminal trial of former president Donald Trump -- or as his attorneys call him, "Mr. President" -- is underway in lower Manhattan, and in the words of the real estate developer-turned-reality TV star-turned-Commander-in-Chief, it's "nothing like we've ever seen before."
As one of only 50 reporters in the courtroom, I'm getting a first-hand, birds-eye view of this historic and first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president. And it's happening on Donald Trump's home turf, where he built his reputation, his millions -- and of course, where he came down the escalator in Trump Tower to announce his candidacy in 2015.
I was there then, and here I am now, sitting just rows behind the current presumptive Republican party nominee -- as a cadre of lawyers defend him against charges he falsified business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, to keep her claims of an affair from the voters.
Every day, Trump, who turns 78 next month, enters court with an entourage, consisting of lawyers, advisors, a campaign representative, and recently, his son Eric, 40.
Trump always wears a dark suit, but the ties change: one day, it was uncharacteristically bright gold. He scouts the room and will acknowledge some of the television news anchors he sees in the spectator seats.
He'll close his eyes often as he sits at the defense table. And while some say he occasionally nods off, it appears to me like he's concentrating and listening to the testimony.
There have been only a handful of witnesses and they've brought into the light the dark underbelly of the pay-to-play tabloid world. Former "National Enquirer" publisher David Pecker testified about his long-time friendship with Trump, and the art and science of buying stories, or buying silence.
Lawyer Keith Davidson revealed the nuts and bolts of the negotiations for Daniels' $130,000 payoff. He's cut deals in cases involving Hulk Hogan and Charlie Sheen -- but bristles at any suggestion that he dealt in extortion.
It's still early on in the case - more to come - and I'll be in the courtroom the rest of the way, seated and buckled in for the ride!