Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial began to gather pace on Tuesday with seven jurors now confirmed and the selection process set to resume on Thursday.
Mr Trump is making history once again as the first American president to ever stand trial on criminal charges.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg charged him with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election to ensure her silence about an alleged affair in 2006.
Mr Trump denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty.
On Tuesday, the defendant was scolded by Judge Juan Merchan for audibly muttering and gesturing at a potential juror after his lawyer Todd Blanche challenged her possible inclusion.
Judge Merchan told the defendant: “I won’t tolerate that… I will not let any jurors be intimidated in this courtroom.”
After Tuesday’s session, Mr Trump lashed out bitterly at Mr Bragg during a visit to a Harlem bodega. With court not in session on Wednesday, the former president has been lashing out at various enemies and court procedures on Truth Social.
Trump mocked as ‘feeble’ after confusing Jimmy Kimmel and Al Pacino
It might be fair to assume at this point that Jimmy Kimmel finds it a badge of honour to be able to get completely under Donald Trump’s skin whenever he mentions the former president.
As sure as night becomes day, the former president took to Truth Social to attack Mr Kimmel.
But, in the process of doing so, Mr Trump managed to somehow confused the late-night host with Oscars legend Al Pacino in his error-riddled diatribe.
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 18:20
Bodega visit, judge warning and more bizarre jury excuses: How day two of Trump’s criminal trial unfolded
Martha McHardy and Joe Sommerlad report:
Several more prospective jurors said they could not remain unbiased, underscoring the challenge of seating a panel in Manhattan, a profoundly Democratic borough.
He allegedly paid Daniels, 45, $130,000 in October 2016 in exchange for her silence over a 2006 affair Daniels says they had.
Mr Trump denies the affair and all of the charges brought against him by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg.
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 18:00
Potential juror hints at Trump’s infamous ad about Central Park Five
Mike Bedigan reports on what he said:
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 17:30
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 17:15
Trump says Biden should want presidential immunity more than anyone
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social this morning that “Crooked Joe Biden” should want presidential immunity “more than any other living (barely!) individual” because “having absolutely nothing to do with me, he will surely be Indicted and Tried for many of his Dishonest, illegal, or Incompetent Actions”.
The former president added: “A President should not be placed in that position – MUST BE FREE TO MAKE DECISIONS, HOPEFULLY CORRECT ONES!”
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 17:06
‘He walks into a room and he sets people off. I find that really interesting’
Seven Manhattan residents – including an Irish waiter, an oncology nurse and a man who finds Donald Trump “fascinating” – have now been selected to serve on a jury that could deliver the first criminal trial verdict against the former president.
Alex Woodward filed this report from the courthouse in Lower Manhattan:
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 17:00
Trump to have dinner with President Duda of Poland tonight
Donald Trump will have dinner with President Andrzej Duda of Poland in New York tonight.
A campaign official for the former president and a Polish official confirmed the plans to CBS News.
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 16:56
Nikki Haley announces new job after dropping out of 2024 US presidential race
Nikki Haley has announced she has a new job after dropping out of the 2024 US presidential race. The former South Carolina governor has announced she is joining the Hudson Institute, a conservative foreign policy think tank, as their Walter P. Stern chair. The 52-year-old dropped out of the Republican presidential primary last month after failing to gain enough momentum against rival Donald Trump following Super Tuesday, when the former president swept nearly every contest. The former US ambassador said she will be using her position at Hudson to further her foreign policy objectives by guiding other policymakers.
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 16:30
Colbert roasts Trump over courtroom sketch of him ‘asleep’
“He was sharp, focused ― and he fell asleep again,” Colbert said.
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 16:04
Trump forced to look at memes of himself in court and hated it
Here’s Becca Monaghan for Indy100 on the fascinating spectacle of Trump being confronted with unflattering memes and social media posts about himself in court yesterday, something he is unlikely to see much of amid the largely fawning content on his Truth Social platform.
Trump was forced to look at memes of himself in court and hated them
Donald Trump was forced to sit through memes of himself during his New York criminal trial for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up hush money to adult star Stormy Daniels.Judge Juan Merchan and lawyers from the prosecution and defence delved into jurors’ social media posts to ensure th…
Oliver O’Connell17 April 2024 15:45
