(The Bloomberg) The initiation of Donald Trump’s initial criminal trial was a sluggish process, marked by disputes over evidence and other eleventh-hour contentions that caused even the former president to occasionally appear uninterested and rest his eyes.
The commencement of jury selection, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed until the late hours of the day due to the dispute between defense attorneys and prosecutors regarding several motions that Trump had filed to exclude specific evidence.
Seating a jury may present challenges, potentially giving rise to additional concerns regarding the trial’s timeliness, given that over 50% of the initial panel of 96 prospective jurors were excused on the grounds that they lacked impartiality.
A postponement could potentially benefit Trump, who has consistently endeavored to prolong numerous legal proceedings in support of his re-election campaign. The trial is scheduled to last between six and eight weeks; however, extending it could reduce the likelihood that any of the three additional criminal prosecutions against him will proceed to trial prior to the November presidential election.
As the initial day drew to a close, Justice Juan Merchan remarked, “We are significantly behind schedule.”
The procedure will resume on Tuesday. Diverse opinions regarding particular jurors are prevalent and may prompt attorneys to conduct protracted interrogations in an effort to expose possible partiality. Trump is charged in the lawsuit filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with tampering with business records in order to obscure a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump refutes any culpability.
Feeling Bored
The day commenced with the 77-year-old Trump, attired in his customary blue suit and red tie, advancing deliberately and slowly towards the press outside the courtroom in order to deliver statements. He paused in front of the cameras before declaring the situation a persecution and an atrocity.
Trump stated, “This case should never have been brought.”
He leaned forward in court while conversing with one of his attorneys, Todd Blanche. During the jury selection process, Trump exhibited signs of boredom or lack of interest in the proceedings. Following lunch, as the judge commenced his explanation of the case to prospective jurors, Trump momentarily averted his gaze and initiated a lateral inclination.
Gag Prescription
Additionally, the initial day of the trial served as an evaluation of the judge’s approach towards an idiosyncratic defendant such as Trump, who occasionally struggles to adhere to court regulations. Merchan stated that a hearing regarding whether to hold Trump in contempt for violating a restraining order intended to dissuade him from publicly dissidently naming witnesses in the case will be held the following week.
The subject of contention pertained to recent social media postings wherein Trump derogatorily referred to Daniels, his former attorney, and Michael Cohen as “two sleaze bags.” Blanche stated that the former president was merely reacting to the pair’s remarks, stating that “they are constantly disparaging Trump in general.” Bragg has requested a sanction of $3,000.
Hours late, the jury selection procedure commenced. A questionnaire was completed by nearly one hundred potential jurors in order to determine who among them holds strong dissenting or supporting views for Trump, and whether or not they are capable of setting aside those opinions in order to render a verdict solely on the basis of the evidence.Merchan denied an eleventh-hour request to amend the jury questionnaire, stating that “there will be no uncertainty whatsoever” regarding the opinions of potential jurors regarding Trump and Bragg once the list is complete.
Supporting Evidence
The judge ruled that jurors will be granted access to evidence concerning Trump’s purported extramarital affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal, stating that the matter is crucial to the case, dealing another setback for the president. However, in exchange for the judge’s consent, jurors were not granted access to the alleged Access Hollywood recording or informed that Melania Trump was pregnant at the time of the alleged affair.
The district attorney contends that the timing of the Access Hollywood tape’s release—in which Trump boasts that “stars” are permitted to grab women’s genitalia without consent—generated a frenzy surrounding his 2016 presidential campaign, which prompted him to pay Daniels $130,000 to remain silent regarding their alleged affair. The case is significantly influenced by the purported affair between Trump and McDougal, as the publisher of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc., remunerated her with $150,000 to maintain silence regarding the affair prior to the election.
