The so-called "hush-money" trial of former President Donald Trump will begin with opening arguments on Monday after the selection of a complete jury and alternates on Friday.
Judge Juan Merchan said in court that "we have our full panel" after the selection of the last six alternative jurors. They will work with a group of twelve jurors.
President Trump reacted by saying on social media that the judge is "'railroading' me, at breakneck speed, in order to completely satisfy his 'friends.'" Additionally, he said that the judge's gag order, which forbids the former president from discussing specific parties involved in the case, is unjust.
"I cannot discuss the most significant of subjects, such as his completely disqualifying conflict of interest and taking away my constitutional right of free speech," he said. He also claimed that Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg's trial is a "scam."
Before prosecutors lay out their case, which involves a plot to conceal unfavorable information that President Trump thought would harm his 2016 presidential campaign, the court said that attorneys would make opening comments on Monday morning. He entered a not guilty plea.
Dozens of persons were eliminated from the jury pool throughout the course of the five-day jury selection process because they did not think they could be impartial. Even while the court has ordered that the identities of the jurors would only be known to the prosecution, President Trump, and their legal teams, some voiced concern about having to determine such a significant issue with excessive public attention.
After voicing concerns about messages she claimed to have received from friends and relatives after some portions of her identification became public, a woman who had been selected to serve on the jury was discharged on Thursday. When a prosecutor questioned a different lady on Friday about whether or not she could make a decision about the case based only on the facts that was provided in court, the woman started crying.
The lady said, "I feel so nervous and anxious right now." "I really apologize. Someone who thinks this way about me judging my situation is not someone I would want. I wish to avoid taking up the court's time.
The lawsuit revolves on a $130,000 payment that adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, received from Michael Cohen, the former attorney for President Trump, in order to keep her allegations from becoming public at the conclusion of the 2016 election season. The former president has refuted claims that he had an affair with Ms. Clifford in the middle of the 2000s.
Additionally, his attorneys argued that the money he paid Mr. Cohen was justifiable legal fees. Even yet, he remains charged with 34 felonies for fabricating corporate papers. whether found guilty, he may get a sentence of up to four years in jail, however it is unclear whether the court would decide to lock him up.
President Trump would most likely file an appeal if found guilty.
A retired wealth manager, a security engineer, a software developer, a teacher, two attorneys, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and a product manager are among the seven men and five women who make up the main jury panel. It was determined that the foreman is a male sales employee.
Last Monday, the former president declared his intention to testify in the case. He is not, however, required to do so by law.
The judge threatened to jail President Trump earlier this week if he did not appear in court each day the trial was in session. The court had turned down the former president's attorneys' request to allow him to attend a Supreme Court session. They also asked the court whether President Trump may be present for his son's high school graduation, but the judge stated he would decide later.
Additionally this week, the court ruled that the prosecution may not play the audio of a 2016 "Access Hollywood" video that included remarks made by President Trump that sparked uproar. Judge Merchan also said that they are not permitted to utilize any claims of sexual misbehavior that arose at the time the recording was made public.
Judge did, however, let prosecutors to present evidence from another woman who said she had an affair with President Trump, Karen McDougal. The ex-president refuted her assertions.
There are four criminal charges involving President Trump, but it is unclear whether any of them will get to trial before the election in November. In the other three instances, in which he has also entered a not guilty plea, there have been delays due to appeals and other legal issues.
In addition, if President Trump testifies in court about the criminal case, prosecutors want to bring up his past legal troubles. Prosecutors in Manhattan have said that they want to speak with the former president on his recent civil fraud trial, which ended with a $454 million award after a judge found that Trump had been lying about his wealth for years. He claims the state attorney general and the court are lefties who are prejudiced against him and is appealing the decision.
Judge Juan Merchan said in court that "we have our full panel" after the selection of the last six alternative jurors. They will work with a group of twelve jurors.
President Trump reacted by saying on social media that the judge is "'railroading' me, at breakneck speed, in order to completely satisfy his 'friends.'" Additionally, he said that the judge's gag order, which forbids the former president from discussing specific parties involved in the case, is unjust.
"I cannot discuss the most significant of subjects, such as his completely disqualifying conflict of interest and taking away my constitutional right of free speech," he said. He also claimed that Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg's trial is a "scam."
Before prosecutors lay out their case, which involves a plot to conceal unfavorable information that President Trump thought would harm his 2016 presidential campaign, the court said that attorneys would make opening comments on Monday morning. He entered a not guilty plea.
Dozens of persons were eliminated from the jury pool throughout the course of the five-day jury selection process because they did not think they could be impartial. Even while the court has ordered that the identities of the jurors would only be known to the prosecution, President Trump, and their legal teams, some voiced concern about having to determine such a significant issue with excessive public attention.
After voicing concerns about messages she claimed to have received from friends and relatives after some portions of her identification became public, a woman who had been selected to serve on the jury was discharged on Thursday. When a prosecutor questioned a different lady on Friday about whether or not she could make a decision about the case based only on the facts that was provided in court, the woman started crying.
The lady said, "I feel so nervous and anxious right now." "I really apologize. Someone who thinks this way about me judging my situation is not someone I would want. I wish to avoid taking up the court's time.
The lawsuit revolves on a $130,000 payment that adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, received from Michael Cohen, the former attorney for President Trump, in order to keep her allegations from becoming public at the conclusion of the 2016 election season. The former president has refuted claims that he had an affair with Ms. Clifford in the middle of the 2000s.
Additionally, his attorneys argued that the money he paid Mr. Cohen was justifiable legal fees. Even yet, he remains charged with 34 felonies for fabricating corporate papers. whether found guilty, he may get a sentence of up to four years in jail, however it is unclear whether the court would decide to lock him up.
President Trump would most likely file an appeal if found guilty.
A retired wealth manager, a security engineer, a software developer, a teacher, two attorneys, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and a product manager are among the seven men and five women who make up the main jury panel. It was determined that the foreman is a male sales employee.
Last Monday, the former president declared his intention to testify in the case. He is not, however, required to do so by law.
The judge threatened to jail President Trump earlier this week if he did not appear in court each day the trial was in session. The court had turned down the former president's attorneys' request to allow him to attend a Supreme Court session. They also asked the court whether President Trump may be present for his son's high school graduation, but the judge stated he would decide later.
Additionally this week, the court ruled that the prosecution may not play the audio of a 2016 "Access Hollywood" video that included remarks made by President Trump that sparked uproar. Judge Merchan also said that they are not permitted to utilize any claims of sexual misbehavior that arose at the time the recording was made public.
Judge did, however, let prosecutors to present evidence from another woman who said she had an affair with President Trump, Karen McDougal. The ex-president refuted her assertions.
There are four criminal charges involving President Trump, but it is unclear whether any of them will get to trial before the election in November. In the other three instances, in which he has also entered a not guilty plea, there have been delays due to appeals and other legal issues.
In addition, if President Trump testifies in court about the criminal case, prosecutors want to bring up his past legal troubles. Prosecutors in Manhattan have said that they want to speak with the former president on his recent civil fraud trial, which ended with a $454 million award after a judge found that Trump had been lying about his wealth for years. He claims the state attorney general and the court are lefties who are prejudiced against him and is appealing the decision.
