The historic criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump began with opening statements on Monday. Judge Juan Merchan efficiently selected a jury pool of 18 individuals, swearing in 12 jurors and six alternates for the New York hush money case. Despite initial expectations that jury selection could take longer, enough prospective jurors were found who were willing to serve impartially within the timeline set by the judge. Trump, whose lawyers attempted to delay the trial, expressed frustration with the accelerated pace of the proceedings.
Five women and one man were chosen as the final alternates for the jury, including individuals with diverse backgrounds such as a woman from Spain, a martial arts enthusiast, and professionals in various industries. All 18 jurors will convene for the first time on Monday to begin the trial. Prosecutors focused on preparing jurors for testimony from potentially unfavorable witnesses, while Trump’s attorneys honed in on the jurors’ opinions of the former president during jury selection.
Emotional moments occurred during the selection process, with two potential jurors feeling too overwhelmed to serve, prompting their excusal from the pool. Those selected for voir dire had known Trump was the defendant since Tuesday, giving them time to consider the gravity of being part of the historic trial. Despite ongoing attempts by Trump’s legal team to halt the trial with appeals, opening statements are scheduled to commence on Monday morning, delving into details of the alleged affair and hush money payment made before the 2016 election.
Following opening statements, details of Trump’s alleged affair with an adult film star and the hush-money payment will be scrutinized in the trial. The prosecution will present their theory of the case, and Trump’s attorneys will counter with their arguments against the charges. As the trial progresses, witnesses will be called, although their identities are not disclosed to prevent interference by Trump. A hearing on social media posts by the former president that allegedly violated a gag order will take place on Tuesday, with potential fines and reminders of the consequences for further violations. Despite efforts to delay, the trial is set to proceed without further interruptions.
