The “hush money” case of former United States president Donald Trump saw an unexpected turn on Thursday. Two jurors, chosen with great care from a pool of seven, were dismissed. One female juror was identified by her acquaintances through information leaked in the press while another male juror’s past involvement in a political scandal emerged. This occurred amidst the challenging process of choosing 12 impartial New Yorkers, and six substitutes, to preside over Trump’s first criminal trial, receiving vast attention from global media.
Trump is standing trial for 34 charges of fabricating business documents relating to payments allegedly made to silence an adult actress who asserted she had an extramarital affair with him prior to the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and is obliged to be in attendance throughout the six-week trial in a Lower Manhattan court.
Since Monday, a large number of potential jurors have been vetted, with many dismissed due to their inability to stay unbiased in judging Trump’s case. Seven passed the extensive examination of their media connections, political stances, and personal circumstances after two days.
After court proceedings recommenced on Thursday, an oncology nurse from Upper East Side, Manhattan, a juror finalised on the preceding Tuesday, informed Judge Juan Merchan that her acquaintances were contacting her after deducing from news reports that she was a juror in the Trump case. Consequently, she was excused as she felt she could no longer remain impartial.
Shortly after, it was disclosed by the Manhattan district attorney’s office that a male juror might have suppressed his past when it was discovered he was involved in removing right-wing political posters in the Westchester County region of New York in the 1990s. The attorney’s office added that his wife may have once been implicated in a corruption inquiry.
A juror from the Lower East Side with a career in IT arrived late for questioning, sparking a lively private discussion with the legal representatives. The Judge, Merchan, acknowledged that this juror initially resisted the summons to discuss his research. However, he was eventually dismissed without additional justification.
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The names and addresses of all potential jurors have remained confidential due to potential backlash. Journalists were reprimanded by Judge Merchan for revealing excess information about the jurors’ appearances and occupational histories, making them recognisable.
Urging restraint from the media, the Judge emphasised the futility of such detailing. He then declared that employment details of jurors would be either redacted from court records or would not be reported.
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The prosecution reiterated their call for Judge Merchan to consider a contempt of court charge against Trump for contravening a court-imposed gag order. They pointed to a social media update from the former president implying that some potential jurors were undercover liberal activists.
Once oral arguments on the matter are presented on Tuesday, the Judge will deliver his ruling. – Reproduction rights reserved to The Financial Times Limited 2024.