Donald Trump is inside Manhattan Criminal Court, on Monday, as his first criminal trial begins with jury selection.
His trial comes over six-figure hush-money payments the ex-president allegedly made to former porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up the payments.
He made the payments to keep Daniels and McDougal quiet about alleged affairs the women say they had with him.
The case marks the first time a former president has gone to trial over criminal charges.
The trial will last about two months and Trump faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Because it’s a criminal trial, the former commander-in-chief must show up at court every day that it’s in session.
More than half of the prospective 96 jurors called in the first panel have been excused from questioning after saying they could not be fair and impartial.
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At least 50 of the potential jurors were let go for that reason, while others bowed out due to potential conflicts.
At least nine more prospective jurors were excused after raising their hands when asked if they could not serve for any other reason.
Only 34 of the 96 who entered, in the initial panel remain in the courtroom. More than two dozen of the excused were white women.
Meanwhile, during Justice Juan M. Merchan’s roll call, Trump stared at the prospective panellists, pursing his lips at one point.
He also whispered to his attorney Todd Blanche while some left the courtroom.
Trump’s wife Melania, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, his ex-attorney Rudy Giuliani and former top aides Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway are among the names jurors will hear during the trial, Justice Juan Merchan said just now.
Trump’s family and former administration insiders will all come up during what the judge estimated will be a six-week-long trial. (NY Post)
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