The second day of jury selection in former President Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial is set to begin on Tuesday after half of prospective jurors were excused on Monday for expressing bias towards the presumptive Republican nominee. The trial, presided over by New York Judge Juan Merchan, involves 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree related to alleged hush money payments made before the 2016 presidential election.
During the jury selection process, more than 50 out of 96 prospective jurors were excused for admitting they could not serve impartially. Judge Merchan, despite Trump's request for recusal, affirmed his role in overseeing the trial and emphasized Trump's right to be present daily to assist in his defense.
The trial, expected to last six weeks, will not convene on Wednesdays and Monday, April 29. The judge rejected a defense request for Trump to be excused to attend a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on presidential immunity. Additionally, a gag order was imposed on Trump last month due to his extrajudicial statements, with prosecutors alleging violations on social media.
Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office charged Trump with falsifying business records to conceal criminal conduct during the 2016 election. The charges allege intent to defraud by falsifying business records. Federal investigations in 2019 and 2021 did not result in charges related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Arguments on Trump's alleged violations of the gag order are scheduled for April 23. The trial continues to draw attention as it unfolds in the New York Supreme Court.
