The first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, involving Donald Trump, is underway in New York, with the selection of seven jurors who will decide the outcome of the case. The allegations against Trump involve a scheme with his former attorney Michael Cohen to falsify records in order to cover up reimbursements he paid to Cohen, allegedly for a “hush money” payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just prior to the 2016 election. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty, accusing prosecutors of pursuing the case for political reasons.
The jurors were chosen from a pool of Manhattan residents after answering questions about their political opinions, personal lives, and news consumption habits. The final jury will include 12 jurors and six alternates. The jurors selected so far include a man from Ireland working in sales who enjoys the outdoors, a woman oncology nurse from the Upper East Side, a corporate lawyer from Oregon who likes hiking, a man from Puerto Rico working in IT, a middle school English teacher from Harlem, a software engineer from Chelsea, and a civil litigator from the Upper East Side. Each juror has their own unique background and perspective on the case.
Juror #1, originally from Ireland, was chosen as the foreperson and gets his news from a variety of sources including the New York Times, the Daily Mail, Fox News, and MSNBC. Juror #2 is an oncology nurse who primarily gets her news from the New York Times, CNN, and Google. Juror #3, a corporate lawyer, enjoys hiking and gets his news from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Google. Juror #4 is from Puerto Rico, reads The New York Daily News and The New York Times, and described Trump as “fascinating and mysterious.” Jurors #5, #6, and #7 have various backgrounds and news consumption habits.
The jurors come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of perspectives on politics, news, and the case at hand. Some jurors have specific hobbies and interests, while others may not follow the news closely. However, all have committed to serving impartially and listening to the facts of the case. As the trial progresses, the jurors will hear evidence related to the alleged scheme between Trump and Cohen, and will have the responsibility of reaching a verdict in this historic trial involving a former president.
