Jury Selection Resumes In Trump's Criminal Trial Over Hush Money

Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York sees more jurors excused, highlighting the difficulty in selecting an impartial panel.

What Happened: The jury selection process for the former U.S. president’s trial is proving to be a challenging task. Five additional potential jurors were dismissed, bringing the total to 56 out of 96 summoned on Monday, Reuters reported.

The jurors excused on Tuesday cited scheduling conflicts, concerns about balancing juror service with their jobs, or a change of heart about their ability to be fair.

Justice Juan Merchan excused a juror who expressed difficulty in being impartial due to his Republican-leaning social circle in the finance and accounting world.

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Despite the challenges, some jurors were allowed to continue after answering questions on Tuesday. These included an asset manager at Lazard and a corporate lawyer from Oregon.

Why It Matters: Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, was seen in the courtroom wearing a blue tie and occasionally holding a piece of paper to his face as jurors read out their answers.

The trial of Donald Trump is a significant event, as he is the first ex-president to face criminal charges. Mary Trump, his niece, highlighted the importance of Trump’s compulsory courtroom presence, suggesting it would expose the jury to his alleged misconduct.

Adding to the trial’s drama, Trump’s requests for absence have been denied. A judge refused his request to attend the Supreme Court hearing on presidential immunity, as well as a pending request to attend his son’s graduation. These rulings underscore the court’s insistence on Trump’s presence, emphasizing the trial’s gravity and the judiciary’s independence.

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