Judge rebukes Trump –

NEW YORK (EFE).— Judge Juan Manuel Merchan said yesterday Tuesday that he will not allow any jury to be intimidated by former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) during his criminal trial, following the Republican interrupted the statement of a candidate for be part of the jury of twelve members.

Merchan explained that while a potential juror was being questioned regarding a post on his social media, the controversial politician was making gestures and speaking loudly in his direction.

“Your client was talking loudly,” Merchan told Trump’s lawyers once the jury had left the room. “I will not allow any juror to be intimidated in the courtroom,” he noted.

Jury selection for this case, the first in United States history involving a former president, began on Monday, a process that is expected to last regarding two weeks.

Trump, before starting yesterday’s session, complained on his Truth Social network regarding suffering a gag order that does not allow him to respond to all the “lies and vomit” he receives on television shows.

Trump refers to the prohibition that the judge has imposed on him, under penalty of a fine, from writing regarding witnesses, members of the prosecution and the judiciary, plus the relatives of the previous ones, following the magnate has referred to derogatory way to the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan for her democratic sympathies.

After two days of questions, Judge Merchan yesterday selected seven people to be part of the jury in the criminal trial once morest Trump, the first in United States history of a former president.

Jury selection will continue until a panel of 12 people and 6 alternates has been selected, but more than a third of the final “team” has already been obtained.

Long list

The candidates had to answer a long list of 42 questions, a process that lasted between five and seven minutes per person.

Many questions were simple: what do you do? Who is your current employer? What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any interests or hobbies? What media do you visit, read or watch?

Others, specific to Trump: “Have you ever attended a Trump rally? Are you or have you ever been subscribed to any newsletter or email list administered by Trump or his organization? Do you follow Trump on any social media or have you done so in the past?”

Candidates Interviews

On Monday, 96 candidates for the jury were interviewed.

More than half excused

That day, more than half were excused following saying that they might not be fair.

Question round

Yesterday, in the question round of the questionnaire, several potential jurors said that, following thinking regarding it, they realized that they might not be impartial either and asked to withdraw.

Personal motives

Other reasons why some candidates were excluded were personal, such as a wedding, or work-related, due to the possible repercussions of taking time off to attend a trial that might last six to eight weeks.

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