Another potential juror has been excused after expressing ‘anxiety’ about the trial
Yet another potential juror has been excused from the trial after saying that she is feeling “anxiety” and self-doubt. The potential juror’s voice cracked while answering questions.
The juror is now the third to be excused Friday, underscoring the difficulty the court faces for picking Trump’s jury.
Juror breaks down crying during voir dire
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One of the jurors being questioned, who earlier said her father is friends with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, broke down crying, saying, “I have to be honest, I feel so nervous and anxious right now. I’m sorry.”
She added, “I thought I could do this … I don’t want you to feel like I’ve wasted anyone’s time.”
Merchan called her over to the judge’s bench to speak before excusing her.
Prospective juror who served prison time dismissed
A prospective juror who said she served two years in prison was dismissed by the judge who commended her bravery for sharing such personal details.
Technically, she is ineligible to serve on the jury.
“What you just did is something that most people in this courtroom would not be able to do,” Merchan said to the juror.
Merchan said that the mere fact that she was convicted does not preclude her from service, but that she needs a certificate of release to be qualified for service going forward and, even then, it will depend on the nature of the case.
She was then excused and cheerfully called out, “Good luck!”
Court back in session
The jury selection process is resuming.
10-minute break
The court has taken a 10-minute break before questions for the alternate juror pool.
Potential juror says he has been ‘trying to find a wife’ in his spare time
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One potential juror answered that his hobbies included “trying to find a wife” in his spare time.
The insurance broker, who lives in Midtown East, also added that he has a few close friends who are court officers.
Trump’s interest piqued by juror who watches Fox News
When a prospective juror said she is a Fox News viewer, Trump cocked his head, then quickly conferred with Blanche. The woman added she also reads The New York Times, New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Trump resumed looking at her as she finished responding to the questionnaire. He appears most interested in jurors whose answers offer ambiguity around their personal political views.
Potential juror says he listens to podcast, which has featured some Trump-supporting guests
A potential juror who works in information technology and audio said that he listens to the “Order of Man” podcast, which happens to be very Joe Rogan-esque.
The podcast has had some Trump-supporting guests on, including one man who ordered his financial company to stop doing business in New York after the fraud judgment against Trump.
Potential juror details volunteering for Hillary Clinton campaign
One juror told Merchan that he “volunteered for get out the vote for the Democratic Party during the Clinton campaign.” The volunteer work would have taken place during the same election cycle when Trump beat Clinton to win the presidency.
The potential juror added that he also “attended the Women’s March.”
A potential juror mentions Citizens United
One juror, when asked by Merchan about whether they can be fair and impartial, brought up the landmark Supreme Court campaign finance case Citizens United, saying, “Citizens United is the law of the land but I do favor people who make political contributions to have the source of the contributions made public.”
“There is no reason why I can’t be a fair and impartial juror,” the person added.
Potential juror says he doesn’t use Facebook and only ‘signed up in middle school’
One potential juror, a younger man, said that he doesn’t read or watch any news and while he has a Facebook account, he doesn’t go on it.
He said he “signed up when I was in middle school or whatever.”
Trump already sitting with his eyes shut
The former president is sitting with his eyes shut and appears to be chewing on something as he sits at the defense table.
First potential juror dismissed after saying she has anxiety
The first potential juror questioned this morning was dismissed after saying she has anxiety and wouldn’t be “able to be completely here and fair.”
“I have really really bad anxiety and people have found out where I am,” she said earlier.
Trump takes his seat in court
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Trump just took his seat in the courtroom in between his attorneys Emil Bove and Todd Blanche. He immediately began studying some documents in front of him and conferring with Bove.
Still photographers were in for the daily photographs, several of them pressing up against the table to get close-ups. Merchan then took his seat on the bench, saying they were working on fixing the temperature in the courtroom, which was cold yesterday, before continuing jury selection.
Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, is in the back of the courtroom with lawyer Cliff Robert, who represents the Trump parties in the civil fraud case.
All 22 prospective jurors are present.
