Lawyers diligently worked on Friday to finalize the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who will preside over the hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump. Simultaneously, Trump expressed his frustration with a gag order imposed by the judge, which has led to prosecutors seeking to hold him in contempt of court. The jury selection process in this high-profile case has proven to be unpredictable, as two jurors who were initially seated were later dismissed from the panel.
The trial, set to take place in a Manhattan courtroom, will force Trump to navigate his dual roles as a criminal defendant and a political candidate amidst his ongoing race against President Biden. The proceedings are expected to last for weeks and will likely feature salacious and unflattering testimony, which Biden’s campaign will likely exploit to portray Trump as unfit for the presidency. Trump maintains his innocence, portraying himself as a victim of a politically motivated justice system intent on preventing his return to the White House.
Over the past few days, the judge and lawyers have extensively questioned potential jurors about their views on Trump. Numerous individuals have been dismissed after expressing an inability to be impartial. The selected jurors so far include professionals from various fields such as sales, software engineering, security engineering, teaching, speech therapy, law, investment banking, and wealth management.
During Friday’s proceedings, Trump was observed leaning over the defense table, jotting down notes and exchanging them with his lawyers. He occasionally directed his attention towards the jury box, particularly when a potential juror mentioned their involvement in a “get out the vote” effort for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. One potential juror was excused after reflecting and admitting an inability to remain impartial, while another individual claimed to have no strong feelings about Trump and believed nothing would influence their decision in the case.
Prior to entering the courthouse on Friday, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the gag order imposed by the judge, which restricts his public comments about witnesses. He has taken to social media to criticize the judge, prosecutors, and potential witnesses, leading the district attorney’s office to seek sanctions for possible violations of the gag order. A hearing is scheduled for next week to address the prosecutors’ request to hold Trump in contempt.
Judge Juan M. Merchan is also expected to hold a hearing on Friday to consider prosecutors’ request to introduce Trump’s prior legal entanglements if he takes the stand during the hush money case. Manhattan prosecutors aim to question Trump about a recent civil fraud trial that resulted in a $454-million judgment against him for lying about his wealth over an extended period. Trump is currently appealing that verdict.
The trial revolves around a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to prevent Daniels from publicly disclosing her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors argue that Trump concealed the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution. Trump denies any sexual encounter with Daniels and asserts that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses. He faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with a potential prison sentence of up to four years if convicted. However, it remains uncertain whether the judge would choose to incarcerate him. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.
