Former President Donald Trump faced scrutiny during jury selection for his criminal trial as the judge overseeing the case, Judge Juan Merchan, took issue with Trump’s behavior. Trump appeared to mutter something towards a potential juror, prompting Judge Merchan to warn against any attempt to intimidate jurors in the courtroom. While Merchan did not dismiss the juror in question, he did dismiss another juror over a social media post celebrating the overturning of Trump’s travel ban with the comment, “Get him out and lock him up.” Prosecutors criticized Trump’s defense team for focusing on potential jurors’ social media posts, calling it a “conceptual problem.”
As the trial progresses, it remains to be seen how Trump will behave and what consequences he may face. Trump is required to be in court every day unless excused by the judge, and failure to comply may result in his arrest and imprisonment for contempt of court. The former president could also face removal from the courtroom if he is disruptive during the trial. Prosecutors have already asked for a $3,000 fine for Trump for allegedly violating a gag order by criticizing potential witnesses on social media. A hearing on this issue is scheduled to take place next week.
Trump was indicted in March 2023 on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments to his ex-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up her allegations of an affair with Trump. Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified records to reimburse Cohen for the payment through the Trump Organization. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Jury selection for the trial began on Monday, with potential jurors being questioned about their ability to be impartial in the case. Those who remained had to fill out a 42-question survey before facing direct questioning from the prosecution and defense teams.
The trial is set to start with opening arguments on Monday, with Merchan informing jurors that the proceedings are expected to last approximately six weeks. Trump faces the threat of prison time if convicted, although legal experts believe it is unlikely he will be sentenced to prison as a first-time offender. The defense’s focus on potential jurors’ social media posts has raised concerns among prosecutors, who see it as a problematic strategy. Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the trial and the alleged behavior of the former president during jury selection. The case continues to garner attention as it moves forward, with all eyes on how Trump’s trial will unfold and what the ultimate outcome will be.
