Day 3: We have our jury. What's next?
Despite Donald Trump and friends repeated intimidation tactics, twelve jurors seated. Next up Opening Arguments Monday and Tuesday hearing on Trump's alleged gag order violations
“We have our jury,” Judge Juan Merchan declared late afternoon Thursday. This relatively swift jury selection on Day 3 of the Trump-hush-money-and-election-interference-business-records-falsification-felony trial surprised many court-watchers, including yours truly who expected this process to carry over into early next week.
Jury Intimidation: To put this in perspective, remember that when court adjourned on Wednesday, seven jurors were seated. However, early in the day on Thursday, two of them we dismissed. The first, known as juror number expressed concern to the judge about her own and her family’s safety after being targeted by Fox News host Jesse Watters. In addition, Donald Trump amplified Watters’ via his Truth Social account.
In addition to to yesterday’s admonishment when he was apparently grunting or muttering audibly, see “Day 2: Trump Angers Judge,” Donald continued to show disrespect for the jurors. This included as mentioned
Next Steps: In addition to the twelve official jurors, one alternate (so far) was seated. Today (Friday), the remaining five alternates will likely be selected. With both the prosecution and defense team out of their peremptory challenges, this should go fairly quickly, one hopes. Opening arguments should begin sometime next week. However, the court may pause for some part of the Passover holiday and then, of course, the hearing on the gag order violations is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23. That said, opening arguments might begin on Monday.
Gag Order Hearing Coming on Tuesday: Judge Merchan initially planned the hearing for this upcoming Tuesday to discuss the three alleged gag order violations raised by the prosecution. In court on Wednesday, prosecutors alleged that Trump violated the gag order seven more times. To refresh your memory, here’s the relevant portion of judge’s order which he revised on April 1.
And, here are some examples of what the prosecution argues violated that order. This included the “public statement” on Truth Social on April 13 shown below, about known witness Michael Cohen, which would be a violation of paragraph (a) above.
Another example would be the “public statement” he made on Truth Social on Wednesday, shown below about jury #2, who in the words of the gag order was either a “prospective” or actual juror (as she was seated at that time).
I’ll back back tomorrow to report on what happens today, Friday April 19th on Day 4.
Jesse Waters. Not surprising he would put that on air, or that Fox would just let it stand. Gross.
The juror intimidation is worrisome. Clearly should be jailed, as his efforts to pervert the course if justice will continue unless and until he is forcibly restrained. Prosecutors are asking for him to be. And yet the "no nonsense" judge is deferring issue to previously scheduled hearing next week?
I dunno. When my house is burning down I don't expect 911 to tell me to wait until next week's fire inspection.