The criminal trial of former United States President Donald Trump is moving swiftly in New York, with seven jurors already selected after just two days. The trial, which marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first US president to stand trial on criminal charges, involves 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
The second day of the trial concluded with warnings about fairness, impartiality, and decorum, directed at both prospective jurors and Trump himself. The prosecution’s case focuses on whether the hush money payments violated election laws and were intended to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Jury selection proved challenging, as many potential jurors were dismissed due to concerns about impartiality. The process included a questionnaire and questioning by both prosecution and defense teams. Social media posts were also scrutinized, leading to the dismissal of some prospective jurors.
Trump’s reactions in court drew attention, leading to a rebuke from Judge Merchan for potential juror intimidation. By the end of the day, seven jurors had been selected and sworn in, bringing the trial closer to opening arguments.
The selected jurors come from diverse backgrounds, including an Irish man, an oncology nurse, and a corporate lawyer. With jury selection progressing faster than expected, the trial could begin sooner than anticipated. Further selection of jurors is set to continue in the coming days.