Court adjourns after fourth day of Trump hush money trial: Recap

Trump’s New York criminal trial adjourned for the day just before 4:30 p.m.

A panel of 12 primary and 6 alternate jurors was officially established earlier in the day, paving the way for opening statements to begin Monday morning.

— Ella Lee

Prosecutors agreed to provide the name of their first witness to Trump and his lawyers on Sunday, one day before opening statements.

Trump attorney Susan Necheles renewed the defense’s request that prosecutors provide the names of the first three witnesses, as they usually do as a courtesy. Prosecutors had declined to do so in this case over Trump’s recent Truth Social posts attacking witnesses.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said if Trump posts the first name on social media, “that will be the last time we give that courtesy.”

— Zach Schonfeld

After going through various letters submitted by Trump’s attorneys in recent days, the judge scolded them for attempting to reopen issues the court previously decided.

“At this point what’s happened, the defense is literally targeting individual decisions one by one by one by one,” Merchan said.

He added moments later, “at some point you need to accept the court’s rulings.”

— Zach Schonfeld

After hearing arguments, Justice Juan Merchan said he would make his ruling on which of Trump’s past cases he can be cross-examined on Monday morning.

Before breaking for the day, Merchan said he wants to bring up a few other pending matters.

— Zach Schonfeld

Trump attorney Emil Bove raised concerns that cross-examining Trump about his recent sexual abuse and defamation verdicts in advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s two lawsuits would be too “salacious.”

It ”pushes the salaciousness onto another level. This is a case about documents,” Bove said.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo pushed back, noting that the defamation verdict included a finding that Trump’s denials of Carroll’s sexual assault claims were “false and published with actual malice.”

“That’s critical, critical evidence that the jury ought to be able to consider in assessing the defendant’s credibility if he testifies,” Colangelo said.

— Zach Schonfeld

After a court break that was interrupted by what police said was a man who set himself on fire outside of the courthouse, Judge Merchan has retaken the bench.

The day will now turn to a hearing on Trump’s possible testimony in the hush money trial and what he could be asked by prosecutors. His defense team will then be allowed to determine if they want their client to take the stand.

Read more here on background of the hearing.

— Zach Schonfeld

A person has self-immolated outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Trump’s first criminal trial is ongoing, police confirmed to The Hill.

— Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee

A fire broke out near the New York courthouse during former President Trump’s hush money trial, engulfing a person.

The disturbing imagery was captured on video and in photos, but it was not immediately clear what happened.

Reporters covering the trial outside the courthouse witnessed the ugly scene and spoke about what they were seeing and smelling as first response vehicles raced to the scene.

There has been heavy security around the trial, the first criminal proceeding involving a former U.S. president.

Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee this fall.

— Ian Swanson

A full jury has been selected in former President Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for opening remarks to begin Monday.  

After nearly 200 prospective jurors were screened by the judge, Trump’s lawyers and Manhattan prosecutors, a total of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates were selected Friday to hear the first criminal case of any former U.S. president. 

Read more here.

A prospective juror who said some people feel “emboldened” by Trump to discriminate against her as a woman and other minority groups was dismissed for cause.

Judge Juan Merchan said he thought she was “credible” but agreed with defense attorneys that the “safer course” was to grant their request.

— Ella Lee

A third and fourth alternate has been chosen.

Two more alternates must be chosen in order for the full jury to be empaneled.

A second alternate juror has been selected to serve on the panel that will decide Trump’s fate in his New York hush money case.

— Ella Lee

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles has concluded her questioning. The attorneys are now mulling which prospective jurors they are choosing as alternates to challenge.

— Zach Schonfeld

A potential juror said she doesn’t have a bias against Trump but does hold personal views against his base.

The woman opined that Trump’s rhetoric at times “enables” people to believe they have the “permission to discriminate or act on their negative impulses.” But she assured Trump’s lawyers she’d keep those views out of her deliberations on the case.

“I think that is an issue for me in the ballot box I will have to deal with, not within the courtroom,” she said.

— Ella Lee

In questioning a batch of potential jurors, Trump attorney Susan Necheles zeroed in on Trump’s treatment of women.

The attorney asked the New Yorkers whether the fact that women have accused Trump of sexual assault would impair their ability to be impartial.

She also asked whether allegations that Trump was unfaithful in his marriage — a key component of the district attorney’s case — would cause them to judge him unfairly.

No could-be jurors answered in the affirmative.

— Ella Lee

A second potential juror was excused over anxiety of serving on Trump’s jury.

“I’m getting the same anxiety and self-doubt,” she said.

The woman appeared not to understand various questions being asked of her, and the judge agreed to dismiss her.

— Ella Lee

Several prospective jurors questioned said they could look past ex-Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s guilty plea to campaign finance violations and other charges when considering his testimony in the hush money case. He’s expected to be a key witness.

“Definitely need to wait to hear what I see,” one could-be juror said. “I’ll keep listening.”

“People are complicated,” said another. “The world is not black and white.”

— Ella Lee

A woman being questioned in Trump’s jury pool shed tears after expressing anxiety over serving on the case.

“I have to be honest: I feel so nervous and anxious right now,” she said, struggling to get words out. “I’m sorry. I thought I could do this.”

“This is so much more stressful than I thought it was going to be,” she added.

The judge excused her.

— Ella Lee

A woman who said she was previously convicted of a felony was disqualified from Trump’s jury pool because she lacked a certificate that would allow her to serve on the panel.

After an emotional discussion between the woman, judge and attorneys, Judge Juan Merchan told the woman that the mere fact she was convicted of a felony was not disqualifying.

“Good luck,” the woman said to the courtroom as she was walking out.

— Ella Lee

The current batch of 22 prospective jurors has finished answering their questionnaires.

The court will hold a 10-minute break. After reconvening, attorneys on both sides will be able to question them. Prosecutors are first up, and each side will get 35 minutes.

— Zach Schonfeld

A potential juror in Trump’s hush money case participated in get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.

The man, who works in music and entertainment as a fund manager, also said he attended a march in support of women’s rights.

Both comments caused Trump to perk up, passing notes and sharing a brief verbal exchange.

The prospective juror also has a financial tie to the podcast company that produces “Mea Culpa,” Michael Cohen’s podcast. Cohen, Trump’s ex-fixer, is expected to be a key witness in the case.

Another prospective juror said a family member is a lifelong friend of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of Trump’s former 2024 primary rivals. Trump looked over to the juror and smiled.

— Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld

Trump has been flipping through a stack of papers in front of him, also writing extensively. The papers contain charts, photos or graphics, but not text, according to a pool report.

Trump has occasionally looked over to prospective jurors as they answer the questionnaires, and Trump attorney Todd Blanche has also passed his client a few notes.

Earlier, Trump closed his eyes for a few minutes at a time, his head occasionally drooping. He also put something in his mouth and began chewing it, perhaps gum.

— Zach Schonfeld

Updated 11:13 a.m.

Two jurors were excused after saying they can’t be impartial to Trump.

The first woman suggested that her “really bad anxiety” might make it difficult to be “completely fair and impartial,” given the high-profile nature of the case.

“The more days that go on and more and more people in my life know that I’m here without me even telling them, they just put pieces together,” she said, according to a pool report.

A second woman indicated that she had every intention of being impartial when she “first started,” but after seeing the questions posed and reflecting, decided she couldn’t be fair.

“After the last day and after some introspection, I don’t think I can be impartial,” she said.

— Ella Lee

One by one, the next group of 22 prospective jurors are answering a 42-question survey aloud.

After they all finish the questionnaire, lawyers on each side will have 35 minutes to question the prospective jurors.

Read the questions here.

— Zach Schonfeld

Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom and began proceedings for the day.

“Good morning, Mr. Trump,” he said.

— Ella Lee

Former President Trump entered the courtroom just before 9:30 EDT and took his seat. An aide handed him a stack of papers, which he began looking through.

— Zach Schonfeld

Barring an unexpected twist, the judge expects the selection process will wrap up today.

He’s even hopeful there will still be time Friday to hold a hearing about Trump’s potential testimony at the trial.

— Zach Schonfeld

Trump spoke to reporters upon arriving at the courthouse Friday, blasting the gag order that has limited what he can say about witnesses and family members of court staff.

“The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me, and I have a gag order, just to show you how much more unfair it is,” Trump said.

“They’ve taken away my constitutional rights to speak, and that includes speaking to you. I have a lot to say to you. And I’m not allowed to say it and I’m the only one,” he added, though he has spoken to reporters in the courthouse daily since the trial began.

Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to fine Trump for repeated violations of the gag order.

— Brett Samuels

Each side exhausted their 10 “peremptory strikes” for the main jury, which allow them to excuse a juror without a reason — as long as it’s not based on race or other protected characteristics.

But the counts reset for the selection of alternates. Each side will be able to strike two prospective jurors for each of the remaining five alternate slots.

The lawyers can separately attempt to convince the judge to excuse an unlimited number of prospective jurors “for cause.”

— Zach Schonfeld

Trump’s motorcade has departed for the Manhattan courthouse where the fourth day of jury selection in his hush money trial is set to get underway.

Yesterday, Trump’s 12 jurors were selected, plus one alternate. Five more alternates must be seated before the trial can move into its next phase.

— Ella Lee