Opening arguments are set to start in Donald Trump’s hush money trial Monday after a dramatic end to jury selection that included a prospective juror leaving court in tears — and others dissing the ex-president while he sat silently at the defense table.
“This case is going to trial Monday morning,” declared Justice Juan Merchan at the end of a grueling day in court Friday – where the final five Manhattanites were picked to round out a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who will decide if Trump illegally covered up a payment to a porn star before the 2016 election.
The last five alternates selected include a handyman who offered to fix the courtroom’s microphone if it started acting up at any point during the trial, and an Upper East Side project manager for a construction company who said she’ll “do whatever my kids want me to do in my spare time.”
Trump, 77, did not seem to be enjoying himself while the jurors went through various levels of screening.
In the morning, after loudly railing against the case and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to reporters in the hallway, he appeared to briefly doze off at least twice, while slumped in his chair, closing his eyes and remaining motionless for about 30 seconds each time.
The trial rolled on without interruption even after a man set himself on fire outside the courthouse just as the final jurors were selected before the midday lunch break.
Sirens could be heard inside the overflow courtroom, but business continued in the afternoon like nothing had happened.
Right before the trial ended for the day, Trump went to stand up — but was told to sit down because court was still technically in session.
“Sir, please have a seat,” Merchan told him.
Trump obliged and then shot his lawyers a sarcastic look.
Trump also sat in a navy blue suit at the defense table, without saying anything, while some of the prospective jurors criticized him to his face.
One female juror said Trump’s base “can feel enabled by his rhetoric,” she added, citing what she called homophobic comments and “different race comments that they would kind of cite to President Trump.”
“To be honest, this is a little embarrassing,” the juror added. “I’m not even sure what Trump’s policies are.”
Merchan dismissed her from the case for cause.
Another prospective juror was dismissed after bursting into tears shortly after prosecutor Susan Hoffinger began addressing a pool of 18 possible jurors during direct questioning.
“I thought I could do this, but I don’t know,” she said. “This is much more stressful than I thought it was going to be.”
Trump vowed on his way out of court that he’d testify at the trial, where he’s pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records for allegedly ordering his fixer Michael Cohen to pay off Stormy Daniels, and then fudging company files to cover it up.
He faces up to four years in prison, if convicted on all counts.
“Yes,” he said when asked whether he’d take the stand. He then labeled the case a “witch hunt,” as he has done every day of the trial.
The first of around twenty witnesses expected during the six-week trial will testify Monday morning after opening statements, Susan Necheles, Trump’s attorney, said in court.
Prosecutors are keeping their list of witnesses close to the vest, but both Daniels and Cohen are expected to testify against the former president.
