Donald Trump finds himself in a Manhattan courtroom as the second day of jury selection unfolds in his historic hush money trial.
The process involves questioning 18 potential jurors to ensure impartiality. Both prosecution and defense teams will then decide which jurors to dismiss if they doubt their ability to render a fair verdict. Ultimately, a panel of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates will be chosen to decide Trump’s fate.
The case revolves around payments made to an adult film actress prior to the 2016 election, forming just one of four criminal cases against the former president. Prosecutors assert that Trump was complicit in an illegal scheme to undermine the election’s integrity. Trump, however, maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges against him.
At stake is Trump’s status as the first former president in US history to face a criminal trial. With the 2024 presidential campaign looming, Trump navigates the dual challenges of court proceedings and political aspirations. The hush money case could potentially be the only one to reach a jury verdict before the election, with the possibility of Trump facing incarceration if convicted.
While Trump has encountered civil trials since leaving the White House, this marks his inaugural brush with the prospect of jail time. The charges against him include 34 counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursements to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, for hush money payments made to an adult film star alleging an affair with Trump. Trump vehemently denies these allegations.
