The judge in Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial dismissed two jurors on Thursday as the court struggled to assemble a panel for one of the most high-profile criminal cases in American history.
Prosecutors said one juror had not disclosed prior brushes with the law, and Judge Juan Merchan excused him after bringing him in to the court for further questioning.
It came shortly after Judge Merchan had let go another juror, a nurse who said she felt intimidated because some of her personal information had been made public.
The two removals mean that five people have so far been selected for the jury, down from seven. It will ultimately comprise 12 members and six alternates.
It highlighted the unprecedented pressures around the first criminal trial ever of a former U.S. president.
Former President Donald Trump awaits the start of proceedings during jury selection at Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, April 18, 2024 in New York
Former US President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 18, 2024
Donald Trump’s assistant Margo Martin is seen leaving Trump Tower to heart to court. Martin did not travel in the same SUV as Trump but was part of the convoy of cars that followed. She was carrying her shoes as she entered the vehicle
Deputy communications chief Margo Martin gets into a convoy vehicle
The latest juror to be dismissed was a grandfather and IT consultant who had previously told the court he finds Trump ‘fascinating’.
‘He walks into a room and he sets people off an I find that really interesting,’ the man said during jury selection. ‘One guy can do all this. Wow. He makes things interesting.’
After he was accepted on to the jury on Tuesday details of a possible past arrest came to light.
On Thursday judge Merchan spoke to the juror for about four minutes. The juror could be heard saying ‘Let me ask you a question, Do you all feel this way?’ and gesturing toward the prosecution. The judge then dismissed him.
Earlier, the former president had left Trump Tower for the third day of jury selection.
Aide Margo Martin, who has been among those attending the case, was spotted carrying her stilettos under an umbrella to protect them from the rain.
The deputy communications chief was part of the convoy of cars that followed Trump’s SUV.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits during the jury selection of his criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 18, 2024 in this courtroom sketch
Former President Donald Trump, seated far left, looks on with Judge Juan Merchan presiding as members of the jury panel answer questions from the jury questionnaire in Manhattan criminal court Thursday, April 18, 2024, in New York
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits beside his lawyers Emil Bove and Susan Necheles during jury selection of his criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 18, 2024 in this courtroom sketch
Shortly after Trump arrived the judge told the court that a female juror had ‘conveyed after sleeping on it overnight’ that she ‘had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial’.
The woman was then brought to court and asked by Judge Merchan to explain herself.
The woman said: ‘Yesterday alone, I had friends, colleagues, and family push things to my phone, questioning my identity as a juror.
‘I don’t believe at this point I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influence not affect my decision making in the courtroom.’
Judge Merchan said: ‘I’m sorry you went through that’ and excused her.
Meanwhile, Trump could face a showdown with Judge Merchan over a social media post.
Judge Merchan has ordered Trump not to attack potential jurors in the case.
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday night Trump quoted Fox News host Jesse Watters.
Watters was quoted as saying: ‘They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.’
Some legal analsts suggested that could breach the order.
The order prohibits Trump from ‘making or directing others to make public statements about any prospective juror or any juror.’
Trump aide Natalie Harp on her way to court for day three of jury selection
Trump headed to court for the third day of jury selection
Judge Juan M. Merchan has issued a gag order against Trump
CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said the post ‘was ‘clearly barred by the gag order in this case.’
He added: ‘Criminal defendants have different and lesser rights than ordinary citizens. They are not allowed to interfere in the trial process, especially when there is a gag order that specifically addresses attempts to intimidate jurors. It is just not permissible.’
So far, seven jurors have been picked to sit in deliberation.
They include an oncology nurse, a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English teacher and two lawyers.
Judge Merchan has said he anticipates opening statements in the landmark case to be given as early as next week.
The jury selection process has moved more quickly than expected and Trump has complained that Judge Merchan, is “rushing” the trial.
Trump in court for day three of jury selection in his hush money trial
Former president Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, April 18, 2024
Stormy Daniels appears at an event, May 23, 2018, in West Hollywood, California
In this courtroom sketch, Judge Juan M. Merchan presides over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trial in a Manhattan criminal court in New York
The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump’s lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public.
Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.
Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty.
He could face up to four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars.