Judge warns against bullying
Seven jurors found for Trump trial
April 17, 2024, 4:37 a.m
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Before the first criminal trial against Donald Trump can begin with the opening statement, the judge and public prosecutor must put together the jury. After a good half of the candidates were eliminated due to possible bias, the first jury has now been chosen.
Seven jurors have been selected in the historic criminal trial for covering up a hush money payment against Donald Trump. Judge Juan Merchan warned the defendant not to intimidate the jury. “I will not allow any jurors to be intimidated in this courtroom,” Merchan said, as murmurs from Trump were audible to one juror.
The former US president, who wants to move back into the White House, has had to answer in court in New York since Monday for covering up a hush money payment to a former porn actress. So far, Judge Merchant and the public prosecutor’s office are primarily busy putting together the twelve-person jury. Five jurors are still missing and six replacement jurors still need to be chosen.
Potential candidates have been told they will remain anonymous to the public throughout the process. Judge Merchan said this was to protect them from possible bribery or violence.
At the start of the trial, more than half of the first group of 96 potential jurors had been dismissed. There had been doubts as to whether they might be biased. On Tuesday, potential jurors were asked about their media usage, political contributions and education. Judge Merchan said he hopes to begin opening statements from the prosecution and defense next Monday.
Conviction would not prevent him from running for president
Trump is accused in the lawsuit of forging business documents to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to former porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Stormy Daniels was thus silenced about an alleged sexual adventure that she said she had had with Trump ten years earlier. The 77-year-old likely Republican presidential nominee has pleaded not guilty and denied any sexual contact with Stormy Daniels.
If Trump is found guilty of falsifying documents, he could face up to four years in prison under New York state law. However, in many cases fines are imposed or the sentence is suspended. A conviction would not be a constitutional obstacle to running for president.
Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. A total of four criminal proceedings are ongoing against him. He has pleaded not guilty to all of them. According to legal experts, the other three are actually more serious: Trump is accused of involvement in election fraud and unlawful handling of confidential documents. However, these processes have been postponed and may no longer take place before the election.