Current:Home > MarketsHere are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked -Secure Horizon Growth
Here are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked
View
Date:2025-04-16 06:54:51
"Do you listen to or watch podcasts? If so, which ones?"
"Do you listen to talk radio? If so, which programs?"
"Do you currently follow Donald Trump on any social media site or have you done so in the past?"
Potential jurors will face a quiz like none other while being considered for a seat at the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history.
"Have you ever considered yourself a supporter of or belonged to any of the following:
- "the QAnon movement
- "Proud Boys
- "Oathkeepers
- "Three Percenters
- "Boogaloo Boys
- "Antifa"
More than 500 Manhattanites have been sent notices to appear April 15 at the borough's criminal court, where prosecutors and lawyers for Trump will try to select 12, plus a few alternates, who can set aside their opinions about one of the world's most famous and divisive people.
Trump has entered a not guilty plea to 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in the case, which stems from alleged efforts to hide "hush money" payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of pursuing the case for political gain.
That's a claim he and his lawyers will not be allowed to make during the trial. Instead, the judge will require them to present a case focused on whether the allegations are true or false, and whether Trump broke the law.
Here is how the judge will describe the case to jurors, according to a court filing made public Monday:
"The allegations are in substance, that Donald Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. Specifically, it is alleged that Donald Trump made or caused false business records to hide the true nature of payments made to Michael Cohen, by characterizing them as payment for legal services rendered pursuant to a retainer agreement. The People allege that in fact, the payments were intended to reimburse Michael Cohen for money he paid to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, in the weeks before the presidential election to prevent her from publicly revealing details about a past sexual encounter with Donald Trump."
Potential jurors will be given a questionnaire with 42 questions, ranging from the mundane and common ("What do you do for a living?" "Have you ever served on a jury before?") to the more pointed ("Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for any anti-Trump group or organization?").
Prosecutors proposed questions that delved further into potential jurors' politics, but some were scrapped by Judge Juan Merchan. At a Feb. 15 hearing, a prosecutor said Bragg's office wanted a question that would probe potential jurors about whether they believed Trump's false claim that he won the 2020 election.
Trump's lawyers objected to that question — "Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen?" — and it is not on questionnaire made public Monday.
During the arduous, potentially dayslong process of jury selection, many potential jurors will be singled out for individualized questioning by Trump's lawyers and prosecutors.
But all will first answer the questions below:
- In:
- Donald Trump
Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Sex with a narcissist can be electric. It makes relationships with them more confusing.
- Kobe Bryant statue to be unveiled before Los Angeles Lakers' game vs. Denver Nuggets
- Nevada caucuses kick off: Trump expected to sweep Republican delegates after Haley loses symbolic primary
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- How much are 2024 Super Bowl tickets? See prices for average, cheapest and most expensive seats
- NYC vigilantes 'Guardian Angels' tackle New Yorker on live TV, misidentify him as migrant
- Drew Brees raves about Brock Purdy's underdog story and playmaking ability
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- NYC vigilantes 'Guardian Angels' tackle New Yorker on live TV, misidentify him as migrant
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- The race for George Santos’ congressional seat could offer clues to how suburbs will vote this year
- SEC, Big Ten group looks to fix college sports. More likely? Screwing up even more.
- Miami Heat's Haywood Highsmith cited for careless driving after man critically injured
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Mark Ruffalo's Rare Outing With Lookalike Kids Proves They're Not 13 Anymore
- The Daily Money: Are they coming for my 401(k)?
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa upend Penn State: Clark needs 39 points for women's record
Recommendation
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Will King Charles abdicate the throne? When 'hell freezes over,' experts say
Palestinian American saved by UT Austin alum after alleged hate crime stabbing
Vanderpump Rules' Ariana Madix Fires Back at Tom Sandoval's Claim She Doesn't Help Pay Their Bills
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Kristin Juszczyk Reveals How Taylor Swift Ended Up Wearing Her Custom Chiefs Coat
New York Community Bancorp stock is dropping. Should you buy?
NBA trade tracker: Gordon Hayward, Bojan Bogdanovic, Patrick Beverley on the move