Former U.S. President Trump’s hush money case has selected a complete jury. On Friday (April 19th), the judge, Trump’s lawyers, and Manhattan prosecutors screened nearly 200 potential jurors, ultimately selecting a total of 12 jurors and 6 alternate jurors.
Judge Juan Merchan stated, “We have now completed the jury selection for this case.”
The selected jury members come from different districts in Manhattan and various backgrounds, including residents of Harlem and Chelsea, therapists, investment bankers, immigrants, and lifelong New Yorkers, reflecting diverse identities.
Case Overview
This case involves 34 counts of falsifying business records against the former president, all related to hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer Michael Cohen on the eve of the 2016 election.
Prosecutors allege that this was done to defraud, commit, or further another crime, with the “hush money” being a small part of a broader “catch and kill” scheme to silence negative rumors about Trump before the election.
Trump denies these charges and pleads not guilty.
Jury Selection Process
The jury selection process lasted four days. Given Trump’s controversial political reputation, deep ties to New York City, and media scrutiny, the selection process was inevitably complex.
In earlier hours on Friday, the final five alternate jurors were chosen, eliminating the need to call the third group of 96 potential jurors waiting in the courthouse. The judge thanked court staff for working through the usual lunch hour to expedite the process.
After being sworn in, jurors are expected to return on Monday morning as the judge formally announces the start of the trial.
Diverse Responses from Potential Jurors
At the outset of the selection, around 100 potential jurors admitted they couldn’t be “fair and impartial” towards Trump and subsequently left. Over the first two days of the selection, approximately 50 New Yorkers per day acknowledged their inability to be “fair and impartial” towards Trump and exited.
Some mentioned personal connections to individuals who know Trump, acknowledging his contributions to the city and offering neutral and positive views on his actions for the city.
Undoubtedly, the majority of candidates were aware of Trump’s political stance.
One prospective juror selected for the jury stated, “He was our president, everyone knows who he is.” Another individual chosen by the district prosecutor’s office admired Trump’s rise as a businessman and politician, claiming he “carved out his own path, making history.”
On the contrary, one juror on the final panel remarked that Trump “appeared very selfish and self-righteous.” Some potential jurors had posted about the former president on social media during the 2016 and 2020 elections, causing concern.
One woman apologized to the former president for the “tone” of her posts from years ago, including condemning Trump as a “racist, sexist, narcissist.” She was subsequently dismissed by the judge. Another juror was disqualified for mentioning “kick him out, lock him up” in a post.
Other potential jurors expressed anxiety about participating in such a high-profile case, leading them to request disqualification. One disqualified juror remarked, “The anxiety is much stronger than I imagined.”
The conclusion of the jury selection signals that the trial could potentially begin as early as Monday morning. Prosecutors will first present the case, establish Trump’s guilt, convince the jury, followed by witnesses testifying in court.