Devendra Kumar
The selection of a 12-person jury and six alternates for Donald Trump’s hush money trial has been completed, setting the stage for opening statements next week. The diverse panel includes a software engineer, an investment banker, an English teacher, and multiple lawyers, chosen after days of questioning by lawyers to ensure impartiality.
Trump, meanwhile, has been using the prosecution as a political rallying cry, portraying himself as a victim and juggling his roles as criminal defendant and presidential candidate. He has spent the week sitting quietly in the courtroom, quizzed by lawyers about his views on him, during which he has made statements on social media calling the case a “politically motivated witch hunt.” Over five days of jury selection, dozens of potential jurors were dismissed after saying they could not be fair, citing anxiety about the high-profile case.
As the trial approaches, Trump is aware that his legal problems will thrust his presidency into the heart of his election campaign against President Joe Biden. His opponent is likely to seize on unflattering and salacious evidence to make the case that Trump is unfit to return as commander in chief. Trump has spent the week juggling his dual roles, using his political rallies to address the case and characterize it as a political vendetta.
The trial centers on a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, to porn actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public. Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and could get up to four years in prison if convicted, although it is unclear if the judge would choose to put him behind bars and Trump would likely appeal against any conviction. The trial is expected to be highly publicized and will likely dominate the political terrain in the lead-up to the November election.