NEW YORK (NewsNation) — A juror was granted release from serving on the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump after she told the judge she was worried her identity may be linked online and she didn’t believe she could be impartial.
Judge Juan Merchan admonished the press for reporting details of the jurors, such as their professions, and ordered personal information not be disseminated for any juror who’s selected from here on out.
“As evidenced by what’s happened already, it’s become a problem,” Merchan said.
The swiftness of the trial prompted former President Donald Trump to complain to reporters that Merchan was “rushing” it.
On Thursday, attorneys resumed jury selection with a pool of nearly 100 potential jurors. A little less than fifty from that pool were excused because they said they couldn’t be fair or impartial. Another nine were dismissed for “other reasons.”
As he walked into the courtroom flanked by his lawyers, Trump took a brief phone call, despite rules against it. Although he waved at reporters, according to a pool report, he didn’t make comments or answer questions.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy said Thursday that Trump had violated a gag order he is under seven times since Monday. Prosecutors had previously alleged on the first day of the trial that Trump had violated this gag order three other times.
A hearing over the matter is set for next Tuesday.
6 jurors selected; 12 more needed
With the one juror released, there are now a total of six jurors who have been selected to serve on the jury as of Thursday morning.
The goal is to select 12 jurors and six alternates.
On Tuesday, Merchan warned Trump about juror intimidation, after the judge said the former president gestured and spoke in the direction of a potential juror while she was being questioned.
Merchan said he won’t have any jurors intimidated in his courtroom.
Trump slams the number of strikes allowed
Trump complained his legal team should have more chances to strike people from serving on the jury.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are allowed to strike 10 potential jurors from sitting on the trial. So far, both sides have used six each.
“I thought STRIKES were supposed to be “unlimited” when we were picking our jury? I was then told we only had 10, not nearly enough when we were purposely given the 2nd Worst Venue in the Country. Don’t worry, we have the First Worst also, as the Witch Hunt continues! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social platform.
What is Trump charged with?
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records and arranging hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, aimed at concealing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
The charges center on a $130,000 payment that was allegedly made through Trump’s former attorney and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, shortly before the 2016 election.
Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.
Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
Time outside the courtroom
Trump spent Wednesday night meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, the latest in a series of meetings with foreign leaders as Europe braces for the possibility of a second Trump term.
He hosted Duda at Trump Tower, where the two discussed the war in Ukraine and Duda’s push to boost NATO members’ defense spending, according to a readout from Trump’s campaign.
Duda, who has long expressed admiration for Trump, is also a staunch supporter of Ukraine and has encouraged Washington to provide more aid to Kyiv amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
On Tuesday, the former president said the trial is helping his bid for the White House, as he “campaigns locally.”
Trump stopped by Sanaa Convenient Store, a tiny bodega in Harlem that sells chips, sodas and other snacks. Trump aides said the former president and presumptive GOP nominee chose the store because it has been the site of a violent attack on an employee, a case that resulted in public criticism for the district attorney now prosecuting him.
The visit was Trump’s first campaign appearance since his criminal hush money trial began.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Author: Dray Clark
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