NEW YORK – The judge presiding over the upcoming criminal trial of former United States President Donald Trump has ordered that the identities of the jury members remain anonymous. The trial, set to begin on March 25 in New York, will examine allegations that Trump was involved in a hush-money cover-up in 2016. The judge’s decision to keep the jury anonymous was motivated by concerns of potential tampering, bribery, or harassment due to Trump’s history of publicly denouncing jurors and grand jurors.
Trump vehemently denies the charges, dismissing the case as a politically motivated witch hunt. The specific charges against him include 34 counts of fraud, alleging that he falsified business records to disguise payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as legal fees. Trump is accused of paying Daniels $130,000 in 2016 to silence her about an alleged affair with him, which he denies ever happened.
This trial is one of four criminal cases that Trump currently faces. The judge’s protective order allows for the jury members’ names to be disclosed to both legal teams and designated consultants assisting with the jury selection process. Prosecutors had sought to shield the jurors’ identities, a request typically seen in high-profile cases or those involving violent organizations like the mafia.
The trial, expected to last approximately six weeks, could potentially impact Trump’s ability to campaign for the presidency again in the future. The selection of the jury is anticipated to be a contentious and time-consuming process, as felony charges in New York require 12 jurors and up to six alternates. Prospective jurors may face a range of questions, probing their sources of news, political affiliations, and exposure to Trump’s writings or testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer who is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution.
It remains uncertain how much of the trial Trump will attend in person. While he is required to be present on the first day, the court has limited discretion to allow a defendant to be absent for the remainder of the proceedings. The judge could potentially grant Trump permission to skip certain portions of the trial if it aligns with a novel legal argument suggesting that a criminal defendant needs to campaign and speak to voters in pursuit of the presidency.
Ultimately, Trump may choose to attend the trial in order to utilize it as an opportunity to continue his campaign efforts. The case against him carries significant implications for both his personal and political future, making it a closely watched event in the courtroom and beyond.