Trump to return to court today for Day 3 of his New York criminal trial

Prosecutors and attorneys for erstwhile President Donald Trump will meet a caller cohort of Manhattan residents Thursday, arsenic they participate nan 3rd time of assemblage action successful Trump's New York criminal trial.

Seven New Yorkers were selected connected Tuesday, aliases Day Two, to service arsenic jurors successful nan first criminal proceedings of a erstwhile president successful U.S. history. They were portion of an first batch of 96 residents who were first asked, successful bulk, to place themselves and if they believed they could beryllium impartial while deciding a lawsuit involving Trump. More than half of that group said they could not and were instantly excused. The remaining group were whittled down done questioning from lawyers and nan judge, Juan Merchan. 

Some had scheduling issues that mightiness conflict pinch serving connected a proceedings that could past up to 2 months, while others later concluded — aft spending hours successful nan room pinch Trump and proceeding astir nan lawsuit — that they, too, couldn't beryllium impartial. More than 2 twelve answered, 1 astatine a clip and retired loud, a 42-question appraisal designed to thief nan lawyers glean their feelings astir Trump and expertise to reasonably determine nan case.

Finally, a smaller group was questioned individually arsenic consultants for nan lawyers pored done their online lives. Some were confronted by Trump's attorneys pinch societal media posts making love backmost years earlier they were excused. Each broadside successful nan lawsuit is allowed 10 peremptory challenges, enabling them to excuse a imaginable juror without explanation, and location are an unlimited number of "for cause" challenges, which telephone for a personification to beryllium excused if there's a clear conflict.

Republican statesmanlike nominee, erstwhile President Donald Trump leads Polish President Andrzej Duda arsenic he arrives astatine Trump Tower connected April 17, 2024 successful New York City.  Michael M Santiago / Getty Images

With a caller batch of 96 Manhattanites group to beryllium considered Thursday, location are 5 jurors yet to beryllium seated, and each broadside has six peremptories remaining. The attorneys will besides prime up to six alternate jurors, and nan 2 sides will person 5 much peremptory challenges during that process.

Trump entered a not blameworthy plea aft he was indicted much than a twelvemonth agone connected 34 felony counts of falsification of business records. He denies each allegations successful nan case, which revolves astir reimbursements to erstwhile lawyer Michael Cohen, for a "hush money" costs to big movie prima Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors opportunity Trump covered up nan reimbursements successful bid to region himself from nan payment, which days earlier nan 2016 statesmanlike predetermination temporarily bought Daniels' soundlessness astir an alleged affair. Trump has besides denied having nan affair.

Trump has raged against nan case, accusing prosecutors of charging him for governmental reasons. He has besides often lashed retired astatine nan judge connected societal media, accusing Merchan of bias. But successful nan courtroom, Trump has been mostly quiet and reserved, moreover appearing to motion disconnected from clip to time.

Still, Merchan had to pass Trump connected Tuesday astir "audibly uttering something….speaking successful nan guidance of nan juror" nether questioning astatine nan clip astir 1 of her societal media posts. 

"I won't tolerate that. I will not person immoderate jurors intimidated successful this courtroom. I want to make that crystal clear," Merchan said. 

In:
• Alvin Bragg
• Donald Trump
• New York