Former President Donald Trump complained that his lawyers were not given enough chances to reject potential jurors in his New York criminal hush money trial. State law limits the number of jurors that can be struck without cause. Trump received the correct number of strikes based on the charges he faces. He expressed frustration on Truth Social, suggesting that New York City is not an ideal venue due to its Democratic leanings.
Trump’s complaints came after the first seven jurors were selected for his trial. The selection process is set to continue with additional potential jurors. In New York criminal trials, both the prosecution and defense have a set number of peremptory strikes for juror selection. Criminal defense attorneys have criticized Trump’s complaints, stating that an unlimited number of strikes would not lead to a fair jury selection process.
While Trump maintains his innocence until proven guilty, some experts believe his complaints undermine the legal system. Trump’s legal team and prosecutors can request to strike a potential juror for cause if they deem the individual unable to be impartial. Judge Juan Merchan has rejected at least one such request from Trump’s attorneys. Despite initial predictions of a lengthy jury selection process, opening statements could begin sooner than expected.
Trump is facing charges related to falsifying business records in connection to a hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accuses Trump of attempting to influence the election by silencing Daniels. Trump has denied the allegations of a sexual encounter with Daniels. The trial has also garnered attention due to a previous case involving a store clerk in Harlem that was controversially resolved by Bragg’s office.
Following the trial, Trump visited a convenience store in Harlem that was the site of a fatal stabbing in 2022. The incident led to a murder charge against the store clerk, which was later dropped by Bragg’s office. A spokesperson for Bragg addressed the matter, emphasizing his focus on combating violent crime and collaborating with law enforcement to reduce crime rates in Manhattan. Despite Trump’s complaints about the length of the trial and jury selection process, the legal proceedings are moving forward with the selection of jurors and upcoming opening statements.
