Trump trial: Dozens of jurors rejected as they say they cannot be impartial
Observe: An inside perspective of the courthouse during the momentous trial of Trump.
Written by Madeline Halpert and Kayla Epstein
: BBC News reports from New York: The latest news from Manhattan is coming in. New York has seen an increase in cases of the flu. Doctors are warning people to be careful and get vaccinated. The flu can be dangerous and it's important to stay healthy. Another story from the city is about a new restaurant that has opened up. It's supposed to be very fancy and expensive. Critics say it's overpriced and not worth the money. Some people have tried it and say it's amazing. It's up to you to decide if you want to give it a try. Lastly, there is an event happening tonight in Central Park. A famous band is playing and it's expected to be a big turn out. Make sure to bundle up as it's going to be chilly. Have fun if you're going!
A large number of prospective jurors in the novel case of Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York were dismissed due to concerns about their impartiality.
President Trump refutes any allegations of tampering with business records in order to conceal the payment made to adult film actress, Stormy Daniels, just prior to winning the 2016 Presidential election.
At the start of the proceedings on Monday, 60 out of 96 potential jurors expressed their inability to be unbiased.
On Tuesday, the process of choosing the jury continued and it is possible that it may last for a maximum of 14 days.
The removals on the first day were a signal of the complex task of selecting 12 fair jurors for a one-of-a-kind lawsuit. The case revolves around a well-known incident of sexual misconduct that involves a former president who is seeking another term in office.
As she exited the courtroom, a potential juror was overheard saying, "I simply couldn't accomplish it."
According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Mr. Trump instructed his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to give Ms. Daniels $130,000 (£104,000) so that she would remain silent about an alleged sexual incident that the former leader refutes ever happened.
The prosecutors have alleged that he engaged in such behavior to illegitimately impact the election in 2016. Mr. Trump has denied the charges.
The process of selecting the jury began in the afternoon. To begin with, the judge excluded potential jurors who admitted that they could not be unbiased, which left around 34 individuals in the pool for consideration.
The remaining individuals were asked 42 questions in the jury survey. The inquiries pertained to their routine of reading news and if they had participated in any of Donald Trump's rallies or had read any of his publications. After that, they were questioned thoroughly.
The jury box was filled with eighteen individuals chosen randomly, and they each answered the questionnaire separately.
A guy from Midtown Manhattan stated that he perused the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, a different fellow from the Upper West Side shared that he likes to listen to any station that happens to be on while he's taking a shower. He then clarified that he specifically meant National Public Radio (NPR).
Both of them were not fired right away.
The interviewer asked the woman if she had strong opinions or beliefs about Donald Trump, whether they are former or current, that might affect her ability to be a neutral and unbiased juror.
When asked if she agreed, she answered with a straightforward "yes" and was allowed to leave. However, the team of Mr. Trump initially opposed releasing her without providing any clarification for their objection.
As the case is widely known, the jurors will remain unidentified to avoid public attention. However, the legal team of Mr. Trump and prosecutors will be aware of their names.
"Silence In The Courtroom"
Throughout the day, the individual accused of wrongdoing refrained from speaking and instead communicated with their attorneys in a soft voice all while maintaining a serious and unyielding expression.
According to the Independent, his team refuted claims that the ex-president had been battling with keeping his eyes open or dozing off during the proceedings. The team dismissed these allegations as entirely false, claiming that they were fabricated by so-called "journalists" who weren't even present in the courtroom.
On Monday morning, Mr. Trump only responded with "yes" when asked about court conduct by New York Justice Juan Merchan. This was the extent of his conversation with the judge.
However, when he was not in court, Mr. Trump commented that the trial was pointless and a threat to America.
During the morning court session, there was a lengthy discussion about Mr. Trump's comments regarding the case.
The prosecutors claimed that some of Mr. Trump's messages published on his social media platform, Truth Social, disobeyed the strict instructions from Justice Merchan. The judge's injunction prohibits Mr. Trump from making any public remarks about individuals linked to the case, which includes prospective witnesses.
After President Trump criticized Justice Merchan's daughter on social media, the command was broadened to include relatives of those implicated.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office requested Justice Merchan to impose a total fine of $3,000 (£2,400) on Mr Trump for three of his social media posts. One of these posts was made on Saturday, in which he referred to his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who will be a witness in an upcoming trial, as a "shamed lawyer and convict".
The judge scheduled a hearing for 24th April in order to arrive at a decision.
The magistrate utilized the early hours to settle on which proof would be acceptable in the legal proceedings.
During the court proceedings, the defence and prosecution had a dispute concerning the release of recorded audio belonging to Mr Trump that surfaced shortly before the 2016 election. The recording, extracted from a segment of the NBC programme Access Hollywood, features Mr Trump discussing the act of seizing women by their private parts.
The individuals in charge of bringing charges in a legal case have requested to have an electronic message exchange added as evidence. This exchange involved individuals affiliated with the Donald Trump presidential campaign and a journalist from the Washington Post who initially reported on the Access Hollywood scandal. The email chain reportedly includes a written record of the recording in question.
The judge declined to permit the audio to be played for the jurors, yet authorized prosecutors to make mention of the content conveyed by Mr Trump on the recording.
A lady is clutching a sign in front of the criminal court of New York.
During the entire day, many individuals enthusiastically supported Mr. Trump with peaceful yet exuberant demonstrations outside of the court.
The entertainment features of the occasion comprised of a person performing The Star-Spangled Banner on the flute for an extended period as well as an individual who portrayed Trump by wearing a blonde wig and a red tie.
Some individuals were not as thrilled about the ex-president. A protester was seen displaying a banner that read "Bring Trump to justice now."
The trial that involves paying money to keep something secret, is just one out of four cases where the previous leader is being accused of committing a crime. However, it might be the only case that will be presented in front of a court before the presidential election in 2024. This election is predicted to be a competition between two parties - the Republicans who support Mr. Trump and the Democrats who support the current president, Joe Biden.
In the event of being found guilty, Mr Trump would become the first presidential nominee from a major political party to run for office while being a convicted criminal. However, there are no regulations prohibiting him from doing so.
Justice Merchan refused a plea from the defense to excuse Mr. Trump from the trial on the following Thursday, allowing him to go to the Supreme Court hearing on the immunities that he claimed in his other criminal case.
"Presenting a case in front of the Supreme Court holds great importance," Justice Merchan stated, followed by "Similarly, a court trial in New York Supreme Court is also of significant consequence. I shall be seeing him in my chamber next week."
City rallied together to show their ongoing support for the former President. Despite the media's negative portrayal of their political beliefs, these individuals came out to express their unwavering loyalty to Trump and his agenda. The rally was peaceful and allowed for like-minded individuals to connect and bond over their shared values. It was also a reminder that freedom of speech is still alive and well in America, and that everyone has the right to express their opinions and beliefs. Despite the divisive political climate, it's heartening to see people come together and stand up for what they believe in.
