NEW YORK (AP) — The final jurors were seated Friday in President Donald Trump's trial. hush money trialAnd an appeals judge rejected the former president's latest bid to halt the case as a busy day in court prepares for opening statements to begin Monday.
The panel of New Yorkers deciding the former U.S. president's first criminal trial spent days telling dozens of prospective jurors that Mr. He spent many days questioning whether it would be possible to judge the case fairly, and finalizing it. 2016.
What you need to know about Trump's hush money trial:
The trial puts Trump's legal issues at the center of his fierce battle with President Joe Biden, with Biden, the presumptive Republican nominee, as commander in chief. They are likely to use unflattering and sordid testimony to argue that they are unfit to be reinstated.
Meanwhile, Trump is using prosecutors as a political rallying cry, casting himself as a victim while juggling his dual roles as a criminal defendant and presidential candidate.
Judge Juan Melchan said lawyers will make opening statements Monday morning before prosecutors begin presenting their case. allege a plan to cover up negative stories Trump was concerned that it would negatively impact his 2016 election campaign. He maintains his innocence and claims the story was false.
Former President Donald Trump returns from recess in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in New York. (Gina Moon/Pool Photo via AP)
Despite repeated unsuccessful attempts to delay the trial, Mr. Trump's lawyers appeared in the appeals court hours after the jury was seated, and Mr. Marchand decided to preside over jury selection. They argued that the rush meant that Mr. Trump would not be able to receive a fair trial in Manhattan.
“I respectfully support the idea that an impartial jury can be found within that time frame,” attorney Clifford Robert said.
Judge Marcia Michael denied the request just minutes into the brief hearing.
Back in court, Marchand expressed frustration as Trump's lawyers pressed for a review of a series of pretrial rulings.
“At some point we have to accept the court's decision,” Marchand said. “I have nothing else to clarify. I have nothing else to refute. I plan to make opening statements Monday morning. This trial has begun.”
Former President Donald Trump waits for proceedings to begin during jury selection in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in New York.Gina Moon/Bloomberg
Shortly after the jury was seated, emergency services were called to the park outside the courthouse where a man had attempted to self-immolate. Officials said the man removed pamphlets supporting conspiracy theories and scattered them around the park before dousing himself with flammable material. He was in critical condition Friday afternoon.
Mr. Trump has spent the past week sitting quietly in court as his lawyers press prospective jurors about their views on him, looking for bias that could impede the trial. During a break in the proceedings, he blasted the incident on social media and to television cameras in the hallway, calling it a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
“This trial is a long, orchestrated endurance contest against mean and twisted people who want to destroy our country,” he wrote on social media Friday.
During the five-day jury selection process, dozens of potential jurors were removed because they did not believe it would be fair. Having to decide such a momentous case with so much media attention, even though the judge ruled that the names of the jurors would be known only to prosecutors, Mr. Trump, and his defense team. Some people expressed concern.
A woman who was selected to serve on the jury was dismissed on Thursday after expressing concern about messages she allegedly received from friends and family when her identity was revealed. On Friday, another woman broke down in tears as prosecutors questioned her ability to decide the case based solely on the evidence presented in court.
“I'm very nervous and anxious right now,” the woman said. “I'm sorry. I don't want someone who feels this way to try my case either. I don't want to waste the court's time.”
On Friday, as more potential jurors were being questioned, Mr. Trump was hunched over the defense bench, scribbling on papers and appearing to exchange notes with one of his lawyers. At times he perked up and looked out into the jury box, including when a potential juror said he volunteered for the Hillary Clinton campaign's “cancel the vote” effort. was. The man was later pardoned.
Trump spoke to reporters before Friday's hearing, slamming the gag order that prosecutors accused him of violating. Marchand is scheduled to argue next week on prosecutors' request to hold Trump in contempt of court and fine him for social media posts that violate restrictions on what he can say about potential witnesses. ing.
“The gag order has to be lifted. People are allowed to talk about me, and I have a gag order in place,” President Trump said.
Marchan also heard arguments Friday on prosecutors' request to address Trump's past legal entanglements if he takes the stand as a witness in the hush-money case. President Trump has said he wants to testify, but is not required to do so and could change his mind at any time.
Manhattan prosecutors say they want to question President Trump about his recent civil fraud trial and other matters. $454 million verdict After a judge found Trump had lied about his wealth for years. He is appealing that decision. Marchand said he would rule on the matter within the next few days.
The lawsuit centers on a $130,000 payment. michael coenTrump's former lawyer and personal fixer asks porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims about sexual encounters with Trump from going public in the final days of the 2016 campaign did.
Prosecutors say President Trump hid the true nature of the payment in internal records when the company paid compensation to Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a key prosecution witness. claims.
Mr. Trump has denied having sexual contact with Mr. Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Mr. Cohen were legitimate legal fees.
President Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison, but it is unclear whether the judge will choose to send him to prison. Trump will almost certainly appeal the conviction.
Trump is involved in 4 criminal cases, but it's not clear whether anyone else will go to trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have delayed three other lawsuits accusing Trump. They are plotting to overturn the 2020 election results. and Illegal storage of confidential documents.
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