Two jurors were dismissed from Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial in Manhattan after expressing concerns about their ability to be fair and impartial. Juror No. 2, an oncology nurse from the Upper East Side, said she felt pressured by friends, family, and colleagues after news reports linked her to the trial. She was excused by Judge Juan Merchan, who criticized the media for reporting on jurors’ personal information. Another juror, Juror No. 4, was dismissed over concerns that he may have lied about past criminal activity and his wife’s involvement in a corruption inquiry in the 1990s.
The dismissal of these two jurors left seven jurors selected on Tuesday, with an additional seven still needed to reach a total of 12. Six alternates also need to be chosen before opening statements can begin on Monday. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is accusing Trump of lying on business records to cover up a payment made to Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Trump has denied the charges, calling the case a political “witch hunt” aimed at preventing him from running in the 2024 election.
The oncology nurse, Juror No. 2, had concerns about her ability to remain unbiased after being identified in news reports related to the trial. Her friends, family, and colleagues raised questions about her role as a juror, leading to her dismissal. Meanwhile, Juror No. 4 faced similar scrutiny over potential inconsistencies in his answers related to past criminal activity involving tearing down political posters and his wife’s involvement in a corruption inquiry.
Judge Merchan expressed frustration over losing a potentially good juror due to media pressure and emphasized the need for jurors to be able to serve without outside influence. Prosecutors requested that Juror No. 4 be further questioned about his past activities before ultimately deciding to dismiss him from the case. Trump’s legal team agreed that more information was necessary to ensure the juror’s honesty and integrity in the trial.
Despite the setbacks in jury selection, Merchan remains hopeful that opening statements can proceed as planned on Monday. The trial is expected to last six weeks, with the prosecution aiming to prove that Trump lied on business records regarding the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump continues to maintain his innocence, framing the case as a political attack aimed at undermining his potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election. The trial will proceed with the remaining jurors and alternates selected over the coming days.
