Day 2 of Trump Jury Selection: Dismissals, Admissions of Bias, and ‘The Art of the Deal’
Former President Donald Trump quietly observed the second day of jury selection for his trial in New York on Tuesday. However, he became more engaged when one potential juror mentioned that he had read a couple of Trump’s books. The juror, a slim older man wearing dark-rimmed glasses, stated that he had read “The Art of the Deal” and “How to Be Rich.” He also mentioned that some of his wife’s family members are Republican lobbyists. Despite these connections, the man claimed that he could still be a fair and impartial juror. He added, “I feel that no one’s above the law.”
As the man answered the jury questionnaire, Trump flipped through the pages, seemingly interested in his responses. Another juror, who happened to be a lawyer, admitted to being a “big fan of ‘The Apprentice’ when I was in middle school.” He also expressed mixed opinions about Trump’s presidency, stating, “Some things I agreed with, some things I disagreed with.”
Trump is currently facing trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege that he concealed hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and two others during the 2016 campaign by falsely categorizing them as legal reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied having an affair with Daniels, who claimed they had a sexual encounter nearly two decades ago.
During the jury selection process, defense lawyer Todd Blanche appeared to be taking notes on each juror and occasionally smiled at their answers. Trump mostly maintained a forward gaze and signed a waiver allowing him to skip some of the sidebar conversations between his attorneys and the judge. Both the prosecution and the defense had the opportunity to question the potential jurors.
A prosecutor named Joshua Steinglass asked the jurors if they had heard about the case from the news and their opinions about the judicial system. One woman expressed her belief in the greatness of the judicial system but acknowledged that it could use some improvements. On the other hand, Blanche highlighted the unique nature of the trial, emphasizing that everyone in the courtroom knows the defendant. He stated, “We all know that every one of you knows President Trump, and you all know him in different ways and you all have different views of him based on different factors in your life.”
One female juror declared that she did not have an opinion on Trump. She emphasized that in the courtroom, he would be treated like anyone else and that no one is above the law. She stated, “I am here for my civic duty. I’m here to listen to the facts.”
Many jurors attempted to separate their knowledge and opinions of Trump from their potential responsibilities as jurors.
