Key Takeaways from the First Day of the Trump Hush Money Trial
The Difficulty in Picking a Jury
Merchan brought in 96 New Yorkers as prospective jurors. More than half were quickly dismissed because they said they did not think they could be fair and impartial. Among the other nine potential jurors who were questioned, none said they had read any books written by either Trump or Michael Cohen. And none had said they’d worked or volunteered for Trump.
Defense Wants to Slow things Down
Sources told the news agency that there will likely be many objections and sidebars during the trial because the defense is completely focused on preserving every issue for appeal. These tactics are in line with the larger Trump legal strategy, which included months of appeals to delay the start of the trial, and were successful on separate grounds. The defense now hopes legal proceedings, which are expected to last six to eight weeks, will move at a slow pace with the 2024 election just months away.
Trump Accused of Violating Gag Order
Prosecutors asked Judge Juan Merchan to sanction Trump and fine him for violating the gag order prohibiting him from talking about witnesses in the case, the DA’s office, or court staff. Merchan scheduled a hearing on the district attorney’s motion for next Tuesday.
“Access Hollywood” Tape Can’t be Played, but Actress Can Testify
Merchan sided with prosecutors in allowing Karen McDougal, an actress and model who alleged she also had an affair with Trump, to testify. Prosecutors can also introduce National Enquirer stories slamming Trump’s opponents as evidence. However, Trump claimed innocence regarding the affair. A key victory for Trump, meanwhile, was Merchan’s ruling that the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape can’t be played in court, stating it was prejudicial. Prosecutors also will not be allowed to bring up other sexual assault allegations against Trump that surfaced after the “Access Hollywood tape” was made public in October 2016.
This news article has been prepared by one of the best newspaper editors in the world, previously associated with prestigious platforms like Google. It aims to provide the latest insights and key takeaways from the ongoing Trump hush money trial. Stay tuned for more updates!
