April 18th 2024.
On Thursday, the third day of former President Donald Trump's hush money trial, twelve jurors and an alternate were chosen to serve on the panel. This marks a significant step in the historic trial, which will determine if Trump will be convicted in the first-ever criminal case against a former US president. Along with the twelve jurors, one alternate was also sworn in on Thursday afternoon, with plans to select five more alternates on Friday.
The charges against Trump include 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a $130,000 hush payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied any involvement in the alleged affair with Daniels. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison.
The jury selection process took place in Manhattan Criminal Court, where dozens of residents of Manhattan were questioned to determine their impartiality and ability to serve on the jury. They were also asked a series of questions about their personal lives, including their neighborhood, media preferences, and marital status. By the end of the second day, seven jurors had been selected, but two were excused on Thursday and replaced by seven new jurors. The identities of the jurors are being kept confidential, and are only known to the attorneys involved in the case.
Juror 1, a man from Ireland who works in sales and enjoys the outdoors, was chosen as the foreperson by Justice Juan Merchan. He stays informed through a variety of news sources, including The New York Times, the Daily Mail, MSNBC, and Fox News. Juror 2, a corporate lawyer from Oregon who enjoys hiking, primarily reads The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Google, and was selected on Tuesday. Juror 3, a middle school English teacher, does not have a strong interest in news or politics but keeps up with current events through The New York Times and TikTok. During questioning, she expressed a preference for a president who speaks their mind, rather than someone who hides their actions behind closed doors. Juror 4, a software engineer, stated that she can evaluate Trump like any other person on trial and gets her news from The New York Times and TikTok. Juror 5, a civil litigator and father, reads a variety of news sources and listens to podcasts such as Smartless and Car Talk.
On Thursday, three additional jurors were chosen to serve on the panel. Juror 9, a worker in education from the Upper East Side, stated that everyone knows who Trump is and that politics were often discussed during his time in office. Juror 10, a businessman from Murray Hill, claimed to have a neutral view of Trump and only occasionally reads The New York Times. Juror 11, a woman who was selected near the end of the trial session on Saturday, stated that she doesn't have strong opinions about Trump but doesn't like his public persona. Lastly, Juror 12, a healthcare worker from the Upper West Side, enjoys live music, hiking, and religious podcasts.
The trial is set to resume on Monday, with opening statements expected to begin. As the case continues to unfold, the identities and backgrounds of the jurors will remain confidential, known only to those directly involved in the trial.
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