Trump hush money trial gets off to sluggish start [Video]

NEW YORK – Former President Trump became the first former commander-in-chief to stand trial on criminal charges Monday, but it got off to a sluggish start with even Trump himself appearing to nod off at times. 

For hours, the parties battled over a series of pending legal issues, keeping the hundreds of prospective jurors waiting until mid-afternoon as Judge Juan Merchan mulled what evidence can be admitted and whether Trump violated his gag order. 

Trump appeared detached at times, staring straight ahead and drooping his head. He struggled to stay awake and sat motionless for periods of time, his arms crossed, though it was unclear if he fell asleep, sparking a debate among the press corps.

As the arguments dragged on, Merchan appeared to get frustrated with the pace, telling the lawyers to “work it out” so the proceedings could move ahead. 

The laborious process of selecting the 12 New …