Jury selection resumed in New York City for former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, with seven jurors already selected from a pool of 96. The judge hopes to have 12 jurors and alternates chosen by the end of Friday. Prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers are limited in the number of jurors they can dismiss using peremptory challenges; however, the judge has the final say on whether those challenges are granted. Trump expressed frustration at the limited number of challenges he can make under New York law, as defendants charged with lower-level felonies are entitled to only 10 peremptory strikes.
The courtroom saw some drama when the judge admonished Trump for appearing to speak to a potential juror being questioned about a Facebook post celebrating Biden’s election victory. Trump was warned not to intimidate jurors, and eventually, seven jurors were sworn in, including individuals with various professional backgrounds. The jury foreperson is a married man from West Harlem who works in sales and consumes news from both The New York Times and Fox News and MSNBC. The jury will remain anonymous due to security concerns.
Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty. The charges stem from allegations that he falsified records to conceal payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reimburse him for hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal. Both women claimed to have had affairs with Trump, which he has denied. Trump acknowledges repaying Cohen but denies engaging in inappropriate behavior with the women. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison.
The selection process will continue with a focus on questioning potential jurors in a second group to ensure they can be impartial in Trump’s trial. Trump and prosecutors are limited in their ability to dismiss jurors moving forward, but challenges for cause can be made with the judge having the final decision. Two potential jurors were dismissed for cause on Tuesday, including one who had posted a negative message about Trump on social media. Trump expressed frustration over the limits on peremptory challenges and criticized the venue selection for his trial.
With the selection process ongoing, the trial is expected to proceed with a jury that has been carefully vetted for impartiality. Trump’s trial has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the charges and his previous status as President of the United States. The prosecution alleges that Trump engaged in illegal activities to cover up payments made to individuals who claimed to have had affairs with him. Trump maintains his innocence and asserts that the charges are politically motivated. The trial will continue with additional jurors being selected and the case progressing towards a final resolution.
