Lawyers select 12 jurors for Trump vs. Stromy Daniels

Lawyers in Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial on Thursday selected 12 jurors who will evaluate his guilt or innocence over the coming weeks in a case stemming from a hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Defense and prosecution lawyers have yet to select alternate jurors for the trial.the first in which a former US president is the accused.

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Opening statements could take place as early as Monday, said Magistrate Juan Merchán, the judge overseeing the trial. Earlier that day, Judge Juan Merchán dismissed a juror who he said she felt intimidated by the fact that certain personal information was made public.

The judge also excused another juror after prosecutors said he may not have disclosed previous brushes with the law.

Trump’s enormous public presence created unique problems during the jury selection process, which began Monday. About half of the first 196 jurors tested in predominantly Democratic Manhattan fThey were dismissed after saying they could not evaluate the evidence impartially.

The Republican politician’s criticism of witnesses, prosecutors, the judge and their families in this case and others has also raised concerns about harassment, prompting Merchan to impose a partial gag order. Judge dismissed juror who said she felt intimidated after family, friends and colleagues deduced she had been selected For the trial.

“I do not believe at this time that I can be fair and impartial and allow outside influences not to affect my decision making in the courtroom,” the juror said.

Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the November 5 elections, He also faces criminal cases in Washington, Georgia and Florida, but the New York case is the only one likely to go to trial. this year. Officials involved in those cases have reported receiving death threats and harassment after being criticized by Trump.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all four cases and has said, without evidence, which are part of a broad effort by allies of Democratic President Joe Biden to hinder his candidacy. A conviction would not prevent him from taking office.

In New York, Trump is accused of eCover up a $130,000 payment that his former lawyer Michael Cohen made to Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she says they had a decade earlier.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and denies any such encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 2018 and served prison time for making those payments, and Trump’s lawyers are expected to attack her credibility as a witness.

“Some of the witnesses have what could be considered baggage,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told potential jurors, adding that several have publicly denied some of the alleged conduct they will hear about in this case.

Merchan has taken steps to protect jurors in the case from harassment, saying they will remain anonymous except to Trump, his lawyers and prosecutors. On Thursday, he said he would prohibit the media from reporting on aspects of prospective juror employment.

Trump’s willingness to criticize those involved in the case, combined with widespread public interest in it, could put the safety of jurors at risk, said Barbara O’Brien, a law professor at Michigan State University.

“These are simply people who show up doing their civic duty,” he said. “They are not willingly inserting themselves into a public conversation.”

Prosecutors say Trump has violated Merchan’s gag order seven times since they flagged three possible violations on Monday, and asked the judge to impose fines or other sanctions. On Thursday, prosecutor Christopher Conroy pointed to posts that said undercover liberal activists had been lying to the judge to try to get on the jury.

One of Trump’s lawyers, Emil Bove, said those posts “do not establish any deliberate violation” of the gag order.

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