Seven Manhattan residents were chosen for the jury in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.
The selection process involved anonymous identification with letters and numbers.
The jurors include four men and three women from diverse professional backgrounds such as sales, nursing, law, IT, education, and engineering. Three jurors are from outside Manhattan, hailing from Ireland, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.
Each juror was questioned about their views on Trump and their ability to be impartial.
One juror, a nurse, expressed neutrality, emphasizing her commitment to civic duty.
An IT consultant found Trump fascinating but promised fairness.
Another juror, a teacher, shared a limited interest in politics but appreciated Trump’s candidness.
The jury selection process continues, aiming to finalize a total of 12 jurors and several alternates.
The trial, presided over by Judge Juan Merchan, encountered a dispute over a potential juror’s social media posts celebrating Trump’s election loss.
Trump’s audible reaction earned a reprimand from the judge.
Despite claims of political bias, prosecutors emphasized the trial’s apolitical nature, focusing on allegations related to falsification of business records in connection with a payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump criticized the trial as a “sham” that disrupts his campaign plans.
The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks, impacting Trump’s ability to campaign.
