Trump has already tried to intimidated potential jurors with stare-downs against them…and has been admonished by the judge to cut THAT out ….
Seven jurors have been chosen for the panel that will decide the first criminal trial of a former American president, as the crucial jury selection phase of the case against Donald J. Trump unexpectedly accelerated on Tuesday.
They were picked in short order after lawyers on both sides dug into the social media posts of prospective jurors, questioning them on their views of the former president and their ability to be impartial. Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, quickly sought the dismissal of several potential jurors over their online activity, with mixed results. One, he said, should be dismissed over Facebook posts she had made, including one depicting a gathering in the wake of the former president’s 2020 election loss. But prosecutors argued against the request, and Justice Juan M. Merchan agreed with them after the woman said she had merely recorded revelers celebrating in the street and strongly believed she could be impartial.
Mr. Blanche did successfully challenge another, who had heralded a court decision overturning a travel ban Mr. Trump enacted as president and had at one point expressed a desire to see Mr. Trump behind bars.
The wrangling underscored the challenge of picking a jury in a city where the defendant is unpopular, a process that had been expected to take perhaps two weeks. Both sides must agree on 12 jurors and alternates who will decide the case, which centers on allegations that the former president falsified documents to cover up a sex scandal involving a porn star, Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Trump, who may take the witness stand in his own defense, has denied all wrongdoing. But prosecutors say that, while serving as president, he allowed his company to falsify records that hid reimbursements to his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, who had paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to buy her silence. Prosecutors say that Mr. Trump, faced with damaging stories that could have doomed his campaign, concealed them to influence the election.
Here’s what to know about the case:
-
The case was brought a year ago by Manhattan’s district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg. Mr. Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and, if convicted, could face up to four years in prison. It is one of four indictments facing the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, but may be the only one to make it to trial before Election Day.
-
A day after Mr. Trump appeared to nod off during pretrial motions, he was back at the defense table. He appeared somewhat bored as the jury selection process continued.
-
The pool of possible jurors being scrutinized on Tuesday came from an initial group of 96, dozens of whom were dismissed immediately on Monday after indicating that they felt they could not fairly reach a decision.
-
Jury selection will be crucial for both sides. Prosecutors have some advantage, as the jury pool is drawn from Manhattan, one of the most Democratic counties in America.
-
Mr. Trump has repeatedly complained that the case is a politically motivated witch hunt and has attacked Justice Merchan and his family, as well as key witnesses, including Mr. Cohen. Justice Merchan has imposed a gag order on Mr. Trump that bars him from attacking witnesses, jurors, prosecutors or the judge’s family. Even before the trial began on Monday, prosecutors asked Justice Merchan to hold the former president in contempt of court over social media posts about Mr. Cohen; the judge said he would hold a hearing later this month.
-
Justice Merchan scolded Trump’s lawyer when he caught the former president muttering in court. “I won’t tolerate that,” the judge said, raising his voice. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom.” He asked Mr. Blanche to speak to Trump, and Mr. Blanche quietly responded, “Yes, your honor.” He then gave Mr. Trump the requested talking-to, and Mr. Trump looked furious…..
Note….
No doubt sitting on this trial could earn ya a book deal…..