A New York state judge has sworn in the first six jurors for former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, setting the stage for opening statements scheduled for Monday, April 22, in what promises to be a historic criminal case.
Justice Juan M. Merchan of New York County Supreme Court impaneled half the jury—excluding alternates—over two days after attorneys for both Trump and the Manhattan district attorney interviewed potential jurors about their perspectives, including any critical social media posts about the presumed 2024 Republican nominee.
First 6 Jurors Sworn In For Trump’s NY Trial : Jury Selection Process
On Tuesday, the attorneys addressed Manhattan residents for the first time as they worked through an initial pool of 96 potential jurors. Many insisted they could remain impartial, though questioning about personal views and potential biases continued throughout the afternoon. Selection is set to resume on Thursday.
“This case is really not about whether you like Donald Trump or not; it’s about whether he broke the law,” said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, stressing the importance of impartiality and asking jurors if they could return a verdict based on evidence alone.
Challenges in Voir Dire
Trump faces accusations of falsifying business records to conceal damaging information about alleged extramarital affairs during the 2016 presidential election campaign. He has denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated.
