Jury selection in former President Trump’s hush money trial began slowly on Monday, with more than half of the 96 possible jurors summoned to the Manhattan courthouse stating that they couldn’t be “fair and impartial” when it came to Trump.
The goal is to choose jurors who can set aside personal biases and make an unbiased judgment based solely on the evidence presented in court.
The first six jurors were chosen Tuesday after extensive questioning and scrutiny of their social media posts, political views, and personal lives.
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The chosen jurors include an English teacher, an oncology nurse, and a corporate lawyer. These individuals will play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the trial.
However, twelve more jurors still need to be selected before the opening statements can begin.
Trump’s lawyers challenged several potential jurors based on their social media posts. One individual was dismissed due to a 2017 post that expressed a negative sentiment toward Trump.
The judge also excused eight individuals who stated that they could not be impartial or had other commitments. This rigorous process ensures that only unbiased jurors are chosen to serve in this high-profile trial.
Prosecution’s Opening Statements
In the opening statements, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized that the trial is not a referendum on the Trump presidency or a popularity contest.
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The focus is on whether Trump broke the law by falsifying business records. Steinglass urged the potential jurors to set aside personal politics and concentrate on the evidence presented during the trial.
Defense’s Opening Statements
On the other side, Trump’s defense team emphasized that the charges against him are politically motivated.
They argue that the payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, were not illegal and were unrelated to the 2016 campaign.
The defense aims to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case and present Trump as a victim of political persecution.
The Charges and Allegations
The crux of the trial revolves around $130,000 in payments made by Trump’s company to Michael Cohen. These payments were allegedly made to keep porn actor Stormy Daniels from making public her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.
Prosecutors argue that these payments were wrongly recorded as legal fees, constituting a scheme to bury damaging stories during the 2016 campaign.
If convicted of falsifying business records, Trump could face up to four years in prison. However, the outcome of this trial does not necessarily determine the resolution of other criminal cases involving Trump.
Cases related to election interference and hoarding classified documents are currently tied up in appeals and other legal processes. The timing of these cases vis-à-vis the upcoming election adds another layer of complexity.
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Before entering the courtroom, Trump spoke briefly to a television camera in the corridor, reinforcing his assertion that the judge is biased against him and that the case is politically motivated.
“This is a trial that should have never been brought,” Trump said.
“This is what you call a communist show trial, and we’re going communist. Don’t kid yourself. If we don’t win this election, this country is finished,” Trump told his supporters during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
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