Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the second day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments related to extramarital affairs at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16, 2024.
Maria Altaffer | AFP | Getty Images
The judge in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial warned Tuesday that he will not tolerate juror intimidation in his courtroom after Trump allegedly began talking to a prospective juror.
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan abruptly interrupted the second day of Trump’s criminal trial to tell Trump’s lawyer that the former president “audibly” said something to the effect of a potential juror who was “12 feet from yours Client removed”.
“I won’t tolerate that,” Merchan said. “I will not intimidate any jury in this courtroom. I want to say this loud and clear.”
The warning came as a potential juror was questioned about a social media post flagged by Trump’s lawyer that claimed it showed her attending a 2020 election results celebration. Trump’s comments were for NBC News reporters not understandable in the courtroom.
Asked about the post, the potential juror said she recognized health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. She insisted that she was able to be impartial. Merchan said he believes she is credible and appears to be allowing her to remain in the jury selection process for now.
The potential juror, identified in court only by his number, was one of 18 people questioned by prosecutors and defense attorneys to assemble a jury of 12 members and six alternates.
On Monday, more than 50 potential jurors were immediately excused for alleged bias against Trump. That was more than half of the first group of 96 prospective jurors brought into the courtroom that day.
More potential jurors were dismissed Tuesday morning after saying they could not be fair in judging the former president.
“I don’t think I can be as impartial and unbiased as I thought,” one prospective juror said before being excused. Eight more people were fired Tuesday morning, including several who said they could not be impartial toward Trump.
The firings underscored the challenge of prosecuting the polarizing Republican presidential candidate in New York City.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits as his attorney Todd Blanche speaks in this courtroom sketch during the second day of jury selection in his hush-money criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, New York, U.S., April 16, 2024 .
Christine Cornell | Reuters
Just selecting 12 jurors and six alternates could take two weeks or longer. A jury has not yet been seated.
Trump is accused in the case of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment that his then-lawyer Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.
Bragg claims Trump later reimbursed Cohen in monthly installments that were mislabeled.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has accused Trump of trying to influence the 2016 election by buying the silence of Daniels, who says she had a one-time sexual tryst with Trump in July 2006. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels four months after his wife Melania Trump gave birth to his youngest son, Barron Trump.
Shortly before entering the courtroom on Tuesday, Trump defended the payments to Cohen.
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“I paid a lawyer and reported it as legal costs. Some accountant I didn’t know reported it as a legal expense, that’s exactly what it was,” Trump said. “And you’re being prosecuted for this?”
Trump also railed against trial judge Juan Merchan, calling him a “Trump-hating judge” who “should not be involved in this case.”
His lawyers received cool responses from Merchan on Monday when they asked to adjust the trial schedule so Trump could attend to other personal and legal matters.
These events include a Supreme Court hearing on his request for presidential immunity in another criminal case and Barron’s high school graduation.
While Merchan did not reject these requests outright, he did not immediately grant them either.
The process is expected to last around six weeks, with negotiations taking place four days a week.
Trump will have to be in court throughout the trial, potentially affecting his presidential campaign plans.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
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2024-04-16 19:01:31
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