Jury selection begins in Trump trial — prosecutors accuse former president of violating judge’s gag order

Former President Donald Trump’s trial for allegedly falsifying business records began Monday in New York.

Last year, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts, claiming the former president attempted to cover up "hush money" payments made ahead of the 2016 election to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The jury selection in the criminal case kicked off this week with attorneys seeking a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Prospective jurors are required to answer more than 40 questions to discern any signs of bias for or against Trump.

During court on Monday, Acting Justice Juan Merchan stated that he typically grants attorneys 15 minutes for the first round of questioning and 10 minutes for the second, CNN reported. However, due to the unique case, he allowed lawyers to request a preferred time limit for each round. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, requested 30 and 20 minutes, respectively. Both the district attorney’s office and Merchan agreed.

Blanche noted that Trump would like to be present during every conference, including all side proceedings during jury selection.

Merchan previously placed a gag order against Trump that prohibits him from making public comments about anyone involved in the case, including family members of those involved in the case.

Trump has made multiple attempts to have Merchan recused from the case, claiming he has a conflict of interest. The former president’s legal team recently filed another request for recusal this month, arguing that Merchan’s daughter “has a direct financial interest in these proceedings by virtue of her ownership stake and leadership role” at a progressive political consulting firm. The request for the judge’s recusal was denied.

On Monday, prosecutors attempted to sanction Trump for allegedly violating the judge’s gag order. According to the prosecution, Trump’s recent Truth Social posts made statements about potential witnesses.

In one of the social media posts, Trump referred to “two sleazebags,” which the prosecution argued referred to potential witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer.

Blanche argued that Trump’s posts do not violate the judge’s gag order, stating that they were limited responses to the “salacious, repeated, vehement attacks by these witnesses.”

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass claimed that the two witnesses “have incurred the wrath of Trump supporters” for agreeing to testify against the former president.

The judge has yet to rule on the matter.

Merchan denied the prosecution’s request to play to jurors the infamous 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape that captured Trump making comments about women. However, the statements made by Trump on the recording will be presented as evidence, the judge decided.

“You can bring out what was said in the tape,” Merchan explained, noting that he did not want jurors “to hear Mr. Trump’s voice and his gestures.”

Additionally, prosecutors may not introduce evidence about sexual assault allegations. Merchan called the claims “complete rumors, complete gossip, completely hearsay,” the New York Times reported.

Merchan has agreed to allow the prosecution to submit testimony from Karen McDougal, who claims she had an affair with Trump for approximately one month in 2006 and was paid to keep quiet. Trump has denied the claims. Jurors will also hear Cohen’s testimony against the former president.

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