NEW YORK, United States: Donald Trump’s hush money trial — the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president — opened today (Apr 15) with the start of jury selection and interestingly over 50 prospective jurors were excused from the landmark trial of the former president after they said they would not be able to be fair and impartial in their judgment.
This is the first time in the US history that a former US president is facing a criminal trial, giving a seismic twist to an already explosive this year’s presidential election where the Republican seeks to defy multiple scandals and return to power.
Donald Trump’s trial in the hush money case started in Manhattan courtroom with the jury selection. Jurors will be asked to determine whether former president Trump broke state law by falsifying business records connected to a 2016 hush money payment meant to keep a porn star quiet about an alleged sexual tryst.
However, more than 50 prospective jurors were excused from the landmark trial of Trump after they said they would not be able to be fair.
As many as 96 potential panelists were called in a court here to be screened for their ability to fairly judge Donald Trump who is accused of covering up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels with whom he is alleged to have had an affair.
A woman with short hair, said “I just couldn’t do it” as the prospective juror left the courtroom.
At least nine other prospective jurors were excused after they raised their hand when Judge Juan Merchan asked if they could not serve for any other reason.
The judge has said there is a pool of up to 500 Manhattan residents from which the court can select the jury that will judge arguably one of the most well-known and controversial men not only in the US but in the world.
Jurors must answer a questionnaire whether they have been members of far-right groups associated with Donald Trump.
Trump craned his neck to see the prospective panelists as the process for the slection of jury continued. He said he has ‘real problem’ with judge in New York trial.
As many as 12 jurors will be selected and they would be given anonymity to protect them from what the judge says is risk of bribery or even physical harm.
According to one of Trump’s lawyers, it could go on as long as two weeks.
Trump, also the Republican presidential candidate for this November election, is accused of falsifying business records in a scheme to cover up an alleged extramarital sexual encounter with Daniels to shield his first election campaign, in 2016, from last-minute upheaval.
He also faces three other criminal cases centered on his hoarding of top-secret documents after leaving office and his alleged attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
