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Surprising Progress: 7 Jurors Seated on Day 2, Signaling Swift Start to Hush Money Trial
The legal proceedings surrounding the first-ever criminal prosecution of a former president gained momentum on Tuesday, as seven jurors were selected for Donald Trump historic hush money trial. Opening arguments are anticipated to commence in the coming days.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee received a warning from Judge Juan Merchan regarding potential juror intimidation. Additionally, Trump’s legal team highlighted social media posts from several potential jurors, alleging bias against the former reality TV star.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has leveled 34 felony charges against Trump for falsifying business records to conceal a six-figure payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump maintains his innocence and refutes Daniels’ allegation of sexual relations in 2006, shortly after the birth of his youngest child.
Trump voiced criticism of the trial’s pace, accusing Judge Merchan of hastening the proceedings and insinuating favoritism toward Democrats. Despite Trump’s objections, court observers anticipate the selection of five additional jurors and six alternates in the coming days, signaling the commencement of the Manhattan trial, which will feature Trump, his former fixer facing felony charges, and Daniels as key figures in the legal drama.
Donald Trump to Have Jury Selection Completed Within Days, Not Weeks
Despite initial expectations that the process of selecting 12 impartial Manhattan residents willing to evaluate the district attorney’s case against one of the most divisive figures in America would extend over weeks, seven jurors were already chosen after just two days of proceedings.
Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York, has been swift in his decisions, with more than half of the initial 96 prospective jurors dismissed on Monday due to their inability to remain impartial. By Tuesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys meticulously questioned potential jurors one by one regarding their sentiments towards Trump.
Ron Kuby, a seasoned defense attorney, remarked on the significance of this historic prosecution, juxtaposing it with the routine proceedings within the courtroom. Once the initial pool of prospective jurors was narrowed down, the selection process progressed rapidly.
The seven jurors selected on Tuesday represent a diverse array of backgrounds and interests. Among them is a man of Irish origin who enjoys outdoor activities and follows both MSNBC and Fox News, a woman working as an oncology nurse who enjoys spending time with her dog in the park, and a corporate lawyer who expressed minimal interest in keeping up with current events.
Defense Challenges Potential Jurors with Anti-Trump Social Media Activity
During the jury selection process, some potential jurors had their social media histories scrutinized by the defense team in search of any indications of bias against the outspoken former president, Donald Trump. This scrutiny yielded varied results for Trump’s defense.
Judge Merchan permitted one woman, who was linked to a video depicting anti-Trump celebrations, to remain in the jury pool after she acknowledged witnessing the street party outside her residence. Despite her participation, she asserted her ability to remain fair and impartial. Trump’s lawyer, Susan Necheles, described the video as evidence of the woman’s anti-Trump sentiments, but Merchan noted that while it was indeed an anti-Trump event, it wasn’t conclusive whether the potential juror actively participated.
However, not all potential jurors were deemed suitable for the trial. Merchan dismissed one individual who had posted a parody video featuring Trump titled “I’m dumb as f—,” generated by artificial intelligence. Another potential juror posted “Get him out and lock him up” during a court battle over Trump’s ban on Muslims from entering the U.S. while he was president. Trump visibly reacted as he was confronted with the compromising words of this potential juror, leading Merchan to exclude them from the jury pool.
Conversely, another potential juror was allowed to remain in consideration despite an eight-year-old post by her husband, as the defense raised questions about her impartiality.
Ultimately, the focus of the jury selection process was not on whether potential jurors liked or disliked Trump but rather on their ability to objectively evaluate whether he committed the alleged crimes.
Judge Merchan Highlights Potential Intimidation from Trump
In recent civil trials involving accusations of defamation and business fraud, Donald Trump has tested the patience of judges with his courtroom outbursts and attacks on witnesses.
Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over the current trial, issued a warning to Trump on Monday, cautioning him against any direct interactions with the jury pool. Merchan expressed his displeasure after observing Trump audibly muttering and gesturing during the questioning of a potential juror over a social media post. The judge firmly stated that he would not tolerate any behavior that could intimidate jurors in the courtroom and instructed Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, to address the issue with his client.
Ron Kuby, a legal expert, praised Merchan’s proactive approach, noting the judge’s prior involvement in a 2022 tax fraud trial that resulted in the conviction of Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.
Kuby contrasted Merchan’s demeanor with that of other judges, describing Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the defamation case, as “abusive and yelled at everybody,” and Judge Arthur Engoron, who oversaw the real estate fraud trial, as someone who “wanted to be everybody’s friend.” In contrast, Kuby characterized Merchan as running his courtroom with a quiet but firm sense of dignity.
Trump Asserts Payments to Cohen as Legal Expenses
After leaving court in lower Manhattan, Trump made his first campaign stop of the hush money trial, visiting a Harlem bodega where a clerk was initially charged with murder for fatally stabbing an armed robber two years ago. “It’s a rigged trial,” Trump said, adding: “There’s no crime. You know where the crime is? In the bodegas.
” Trump also said, “We’re going to make a heavy play for New York,” although no Republican has carried the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Trump is scheduled to have dinner Wednesday in New York with Poland President Andrzej Duda.
Trump’s Unconventional Campaign Stop: Visiting a Bodega Amid Legal Proceedings
Following his court appearance in lower Manhattan, Donald Trump embarked on his first campaign stop amid the hush money trial, making a visit to a Harlem bodega where a clerk had initially faced charges of murder for fatally stabbing an armed robber two years ago.
Expressing his views on the ongoing trial, Trump denounced it as “rigged” and asserted that there was no crime involved. He redirected attention to what he perceived as the true crime, stating, “You know where the crime is? In the bodegas.”
Despite historical electoral trends, Trump expressed determination to contest New York State in the upcoming elections, remarking, “We’re going to make a heavy play for New York,” highlighting his ambition to challenge the Democratic stronghold, despite no Republican having carried the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Trump’s schedule also includes a dinner on Wednesday in New York with Polish President Andrzej Duda, indicating his continued engagement in diplomatic affairs amidst his legal proceedings.
