Donald Trump is set to appear in a Manhattan court for a historic criminal trial, just months ahead of a potential rematch with President Joe Biden.
Lawyers are rigorously selecting jurors, aiming to find unbiased individuals in Democrat-dominated Manhattan. Seven jurors have been chosen after intense questioning by both prosecutors and Trump’s defense team.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly manipulating records to conceal payments made to Stormy Daniels, a porn star. Despite the charges, Trump maintains his innocence.
The trial began on Monday, with jurors including a nurse, a software engineer, and two corporate lawyers. Their identities will remain confidential except to Trump, his legal team, and prosecutors.
Opening statements are anticipated to occur on Monday. While a guilty verdict wouldn’t prevent Trump from seeking office, it could significantly impact his support.
Half of independent voters and a quarter of Republicans would reconsider voting for him if he were convicted. Additionally, 64% of registered voters view the charges as serious.
The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, potentially concluding before the upcoming election. This New York case might be the only one Trump faces before the November 5th election.
Trump is accused of illegally concealing a $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair. Trump denies the affair, asserting his innocence throughout the proceedings.
Throughout the jury selection process, Trump observed potential jurors’ responses closely. At least 50 individuals were dismissed due to their inability to remain impartial toward Trump.
The judge has warned Trump against attempting to influence potential jurors and imposed a gag order on him regarding the case. Prosecutors have accused Trump of violating the gag order through posts on his Truth Social platform.
A hearing is scheduled to address this matter on April 23rd. Trump faces additional legal challenges in Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Florida related to his actions post-presidency.
