Former President Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial in New York hit a snag as two out of the seven jurors who had been sworn in were excused from the case. One juror expressed concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in the trial, leading to her dismissal. The other juror was removed after it was revealed that he may have withheld information about his past involvement with the law.
The trial, which was expected to begin with opening statements next Monday, faced setbacks as the jurors dropped out. Prosecutors have accused Trump of falsifying business records with hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair before the 2016 election.
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan is carefully selecting jurors to ensure they can decide the case impartially. However, many prospective jurors have already admitted they couldn't be impartial, leading to a filtering out process.
The jurors who were dismissed cited concerns about their identities being revealed and expressed fear and intimidation by the press. Merchan scolded the press for revealing details about the jurors, emphasizing the need for an anonymous jury.
One juror was excused after it was discovered that someone with the same name had a criminal history and a political background. The juror expressed annoyance at the amount of information available to the public, leading to his dismissal.
The number of seated jurors is now back down to five, and jury selection is still ongoing. The trial is facing delays and challenges as the court works to ensure a fair and unbiased jury for the case.