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Donald Trump is back in court for day three of his hush money trial at the New York County criminal court in Lower Manhattan.
Proceedings in the trial were gathering pace with seven jurors confirmed — though this morning two were excused, with one concerned over her identity being revealed.
Judge Juan Merchan was hoping the remaining jurors and alternates could be selected by the end of the week with opening statements to begin on Monday — that now seems in doubt.
Yesterday it was revealed that if the former president takes the stand he can be asked about previous allegations of misconduct and crimes – including instances of sexual abuse and fraud.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg posted a list that includes “all misconduct and criminal acts of the defendant not charged in the indictment” that his office “intend to use at trial to impeach the credibility of” Mr Trump should he testify.
Mr Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election to ensure her silence about an alleged affair in 2006. He denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty.
Potential juror #16 (B500) is a man who lives in Gramercy. He is married and is also a parent. He works in finance and likes to explore the outdoors.
He gets his news from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and occasionally Fox News.
Ariana Baio18 April 2024 17:54
Potential juror #14 is a man who lives on the Upper East Side and is originally from Las Vegas. It sounded like he owns a design-build company, but there are a lot of mic issues today. His parents were lifelong friends of Harry Reid, and he has read The Art of the Deal.
Asked whether he can assure that he won’t hold it against Trump if he doesn’t want to testify, he said: “Yes, definitely.”
Potential juror #15 is a man who lives in Murray Hill. He’s not married has no children and works in commerce. He doesn’t really follow the news, if he does, it’s The New York Times.
Alex Woodward18 April 2024 17:51
The 12th potential juror — B496 — is a speech therapist from the Upper East Side.
“I don’t watch any news or follow it too closely,” she said, though she subscribes to newsletters from CNN and The New York Times. She also listens to reality TV podcasts.
On a question about whether she has strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about Trump, she said: “I do have opinions but I do firmly believe I can be fair and impartial.”
Alex Woodward18 April 2024 17:41
Potential juror #11 is another legal mind who lives in Inwood and is married with two children.
She occasionally works as a theatre director and volunteers with animal shelters. Her husband works in real estate.
“This is so bizarre,” she said as she was handed the mic.
Alex Woodward18 April 2024 17:35
Potential juror #10 is also… a lawyer, who lives in Gramercy Park. She goes to indie rock and classical music concerts and opera and reads The New York Times, CNN, Google, “Facebook occasionally,” The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, “on occasion Fox News just to see what’s going on on all sides,” and foreign newspapers. She also listens to reality TV podcasts.
Alex Woodward18 April 2024 17:32
Juror 4 excused
After his discussions with the judge, Juror #4 is excused.
Judge Merchan says: “He does not need to come back and should not come back.”
We are now down to five seated jurors.
Oliver O'Connell18 April 2024 17:16
Oliver O'Connell18 April 2024 17:06
Court resumes
During the break, Juror #4 — who was seated on Tuesday but asked to come in over a discrepancy with his questionnaire answers — came into the court and spoke with Judge Merchan and the attorneys.
Judge Merchan said they asked Juror #4 questions, which were kept private so we won’t know exactly what it was about, and it is unclear if he has been dismissed or not.
Juror #4 also “expressed annoyance” at how much information was made public about him.
Judge Merchan is deep in conversation with prosecution attorneys with defence lawyers present as well.
Ariana Baio18 April 2024 17:01
Stormy Daniels ‘refused to take a subpoena’ from Trump lawyers
Kelly Rissman reports:
In a court filing, filed on Monday by Mr Trump’s legal team and obtained by The Associated Press, his attorneys said that a process server had approached Ms Daniels as she arrived at the 3 Dollar Bill nightclub in Brooklyn on the night of her screening of her new documentary Stormy in March.
According to the documents, Ms Daniels refused to take the papers and the process server Dominic DellaPorte was forced to “leave them at her feet”.
Read on...
Oliver O'Connell18 April 2024 16:43
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