The first-ever trial of a sitting president of the United States began on Monday in a historic courtroom that has seen the trials of many famous people—from rap artists to movie moguls—but never a case with global and national-level implications.
Prosecutors have said that former president Donald Trump attempted to cover up an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels while campaigning for president in 2016, and they have charged him with 34 counts of fabricating company documents as part of this conspiracy.
Tuesday saw the seating of the first seven jurors in the historic hush-money trial of former president Donald Trump.
Juan Merchan, the judge in charge of the case in New York, has said that twelve jurors and approximately six alternates will be selected. Prospective jurors were asked a battery of questions designed to elicit information on their history and perceived impartiality.
According to District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump falsified financial records to cover up hush money payments made to cover up his extramarital relationships that occurred before he was elected president in 2016. On every count, Trump has entered a not-guilty plea.
Trump has been quite critical of the accusations against him, Bragg, and the judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan.
Media organizations typically refrain from giving internet sleuths or other investigators too specific information about jurors or prospective jurors because of the importance of juror anonymity in American justice.
However, a Washington Post reporter has written a report that may have crossed the line. David Nakamura, who writes on civil rights and the Department of Justice, described a possible jury in great detail.
WAPO removed the info, which told readers where in Manhattan the juror worked as a bookseller, saying the article was updated and edited out parts about where prospective jurors work.
The zeal for this trial must be clouding some writer’s judgment.
