Jury selection is underway in the historic hush-money trial of former president Donald Trump, with the first seven jurors being seated Tuesday.
There will be 12 jurors total, plus about six alternates, according to the New York judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan. During questioning, potential jurors were asked dozens of questions about their backgrounds and ability to remain fair and impartial. The seated jurors showed a range of knowledge about Trump and the news more broadly. Some were more expressive than others, like the lifelong Harlem resident who said she tries to steer clear of politics but appreciates that Trump “speaks his mind.”
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The trial, which began Monday, marks the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, part of what prosecutors have described as a scheme during the 2016 presidential campaign to cover up an alleged affair with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.
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It is one of four criminal cases that Trump faces, including two others that center on his efforts to hold on to power after his reelection loss, that he must juggle as he runs for president again.
Dozens of potential jurors were dismissed on the first day of the trial, highlighting the difficulty of prosecuting such a high-profile figure. The jury selection process isn’t over yet, but here is what is known about the jurors who have been seated so far, according to The Washington Post’s reporting and pool reports:
The Jurors
Juror #B400
This juror gets his news from the New York Times, the Daily Mail, as well as “some” Fox News and MSNBC.
“I’ve heard some of them,” the juror said about Trump’s other cases.
He hails from Ireland but now lives in West Harlem and works in sales. He’s married and has no children. In his spare time, he enjoys doing anything outdoorsy.
Juror #B280
This juror is a native New Yorker and has lived on the Upper East Side for the past three years. She said she did not really have an opinion about Trump and that “no one is above the law.”
“I didn’t even know I was walking into this,” she said.
She gets her news from the New York Times, CNN and Google, and she has a Facebook account. She’s been an oncology nurse for 15 years, is not married and has no children, but she lives with her fiancé.
Juror #B381
This juror said he doesn’t need to be a mind reader to determine intent.
"I am actually not super familiar with the other charges. I don’t really follow the news that closely — a little embarrassing to say,” he said.
He is a “young to middle-aged” man who works as a corporate lawyer and lives in Chelsea. He’s unmarried and says he reads the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. In middle school, he enjoyed watching “The Apprentice.”
Juror #B89
Speaking about Trump, this juror said, “I find him fascinating and mysterious,” adding that, when the former president walks into a room, “he sets people off.”
This juror has served on a jury in a civil trial but said he couldn’t remember the verdict. He is a married grandfather who lives on the Lower East Side and is originally from Puerto Rico. He works as an IT consultant and says his hobby is his family. He says he gets his information from the New York Daily News, the New York Times, YouTube podcasts, Google and X.
Juror #B374
This juror said that, as a “woman of color,” she has friends with strong opinions about Trump but that she tries to avoid politics herself and is not very interested in the news. While most of the jurors in the box indicated they were aware Trump faced other criminal cases, this woman signaled she did not.
She did say she likes Trump’s candid style.
“President Trump speaks his mind,” she said. “I’d rather have that than someone in office that we don’t know what he’s doing behind the scenes.”
This juror has lived in Harlem for her entire life and works in education. She gets her information from Google and TikTok, and she listens to “The Breakfast Club,” a radio show in New York City.
The juror’s mother and godfather have worked in law enforcement. Both are retirees from the New York Police Department.
Juror #B297
During questioning, this juror said she can treat Trump like any other person on trial.
This juror is a young woman and native New Yorker who has lived in the Chelsea neighborhood for a year and a half. She works as a software engineer, and she gets her news from the New York Times and TikTok.
Juror #B269
This juror said he has “political views as to the Trump presidency” and thinks there were probably Trump administration policies he disagreed with.
"I don’t know the man and I don’t have opinions about him personally,” he added.
The juror also said he does not have any opinions about Trump’s character.
“I certainly follow the news. I’m aware there are other lawsuits out there,” he said. “But I’m not sure that I know anyone’s character.”
This juror is a middle-aged man who lives on the Upper East Side and works as a civil litigator. He’s married with children and spends time outside with his kids in his spare time. He gets his news from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and The Washington Post. He also listens to NPR’s “Car Talk,” WNYC public radio and the “SmartLess” podcast.
Trump New York hush money case
Former president Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial is underway in New York. Follow live updates from the trial.
Jury selection: Here’s what 12 New Yorkers said when we asked them if they could judge Trump impartially. This is how jurors will be picked for the trial.
The case: The investigation involves a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress, during the 2016 presidential campaign. It’s one of many ongoing investigations involving Trump. Here are some of the key people in the case.
The charges: Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Falsifying business records is a felony in New York when there is an “intent to defraud” that includes an intent to “commit another crime or to aid or conceal” another crime. He has pleaded not guilty. Here’s what to know about the charges — and any potential sentence.
Can Trump still run for president? The short answer, legal experts said, is yes. The U.S. Constitution does not forbid Trump, or anyone else, from serving as president if convicted of a felony.
