1 month ago
The defense squad for erstwhile President Trump is challenging nan assemblage action successful his criminal hush money trial, saying location are concerning issues that request to beryllium addressed.
Trump's defense submitted a pre-trial missive to nan tribunal connected Friday laying retired 2 concerns relating to assemblage selection. The missive came nan aforesaid time that Judge Juan Merchan dismissed a last-ditch effort by nan Trump squad to hold nan trial, which originates Monday.
The missive states that nan defense opposes dismissing imaginable jurors who "self-identify arsenic being incapable to serve," calling it inadequate. Instead, nan defense said they wish to usage a hybrid method to differentiate betwixt jurors who declare they cannot beryllium adjacent and impartial and those who are simply incapable to serve.
"That clarity is basal truthful that President Trump tin coming arguments to nan First Department, if and erstwhile necessary, regarding nan number of imaginable jurors who believed they harbored a disqualifying bias earlier questioning, arsenic good arsenic nan number of further imaginable jurors who uncover a disqualifying bias during questioning," nan missive read.
'I TELL THE TRUTH': TRUMP SAYS HE'LL TESTIFY AT HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS JUDGE REJECTS LAST MINUTE PLEA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a property convention astatine 40 Wall Street aft a pre-trial proceeding connected March 25, 2024 successful New York City. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trump's criminal proceedings to statesman connected April 15, which would make it nan first criminal prosecution of a erstwhile American president. Trump was charged pinch 34 counts of falsifying business records past year, which prosecutors opportunity was an effort to hide a imaginable activity scandal, some earlier and aft nan 2016 election. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The defense besides claims nan assemblage questionnaire benefits nan DA's agency by identifying group who connection pinch Trump's governmental party.
"Second, while we work together that whether a imaginable juror ‘likes aliases does not like’ President Trump is not nan cardinal attraction of assemblage selection, it is good established that a imaginable juror's ‘negative opinion’ is simply a shape of ‘actual bias’" nan missive reads.
Trump's defense stated that nan questionnaire lacks a likewise wide enquiry to place imaginable jurors who align pinch rival governmental parties that are not needfully "anti-Trump," but could still support a disqualifying bias that is worthy of a follow-up enquiry by nan defense.
"The Court's questionnaire asks astir connections to immoderate different governmental entity affiliated pinch Mr. Trump, which is simply a reasonably nonstop enquiry regarding Republican Party affiliation. On nan different hand, however, Questions 29. E-H inquire only astir ‘anti-Trump’ groups. People tin person governmental aliases argumentation views that lead to disqualifying bias without being 'anti-Trump.' Thus, nan questionnaire benefits DANY by identifying group who connection pinch President Trump's governmental party," nan missive continued.
TRUMP'S NAME 'INCORRECTLY' USED IN LA TIMES' OJ SIMPSON OBITUARY: 'FREUD LIVES'
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Former president Donald Trump speaks to nan media arsenic he attends a pre-trial proceeding astatine Criminal Court connected March 25, 2024 successful New York City. (Getty Images)
"To nan grade nan Court fails to remedy this asymmetry successful nan questionnaire, defense counsel must beryllium permitted leeway to probe specified affiliations during nan assemblage action process," nan missive finished.
Trump's proceedings is related to accusations he falsified business records to screen up a costs to big movie prima Stormy Daniels during nan 2016 predetermination and is scheduled to statesman Monday.
"I'm testifying. I show nan truth. I mean, each I tin do is show nan truth," Trump told reporters astatine a property convention astatine Mar-a-Lago Friday. "And nan truth is, that there's nary case."
Trump called his proceedings a "scam" and a "witch hunt" erstwhile asked if he planned to attest astatine his upcoming trial.
"What they person done is incredible. It's predetermination interference, and it's sewage to stop. It's a third-world country. This state has ne'er done it," nan erstwhile president said.
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Trump's proceedings comes arsenic he prepares to situation President Biden for different White House word later this year. Hunter Biden, nan president's son, faces ineligible challenges of his own, including federal taxation and weapon charges.
Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
