Jury selection for the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has moved quickly, with the judge aiming to start opening statements soon. Seven jurors have been selected so far, including two attorneys, a nurse, an engineer, a teacher, and a grandfather. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to bury an affair allegation. Prosecutors have questioned potential jurors about their ability to set aside biases and judge the witnesses fairly.
Trump’s attorneys have also been highly involved in the jury selection process, delving into jurors’ opinions on Trump and scrutinizing their social media history. Trump himself has been present in court, occasionally whispering to his attorney and watching the proceedings closely. The seven jurors selected were chosen from a pool of nearly 100, with many potential jurors expressing an inability to be fair or impartial.
A new panel of 96 jurors will return to court for questioning, followed by a detailed questionnaire for the remaining jurors. Each side will have 30 minutes to ask specific questions before conducting strikes. Both parties were given 10 peremptory strikes, with only four remaining for each after using six on Tuesday. Trump expressed frustration with the process on social media, claiming he believed he had unlimited strikes, but the judge clarified the rules during a pre-trial conference.
During jury selection, Judge Merchan reprimanded Trump for muttering and gesturing towards a juror, emphasizing that intimidation would not be tolerated. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks, with proceedings moving quickly as the jury is finalized. The strategy for selecting jurors has been clear for both the prosecution and defense teams, with each side working to ensure a fair and unbiased jury. The high-profile nature of the trial and the magnitude of the charges have drawn significant attention and scrutiny from the public and media.
