The questionnaire for potential jurors in former President Donald Trump’s hush money case, which is set to start jury selection on April 15, was released on Monday by Judge Juan Merchan. The questions will focus on topics such as news consumption, support of extremist groups, and opinions on Trump’s treatment in the case. Merchan intends to ask jurors about their media consumption habits, including what publications they follow and whether they listen to podcasts or watch cable news. They will also be questioned about any connections to Trump or anti-Trump organizations, as well as their thoughts on whether a former president can be criminally charged in state court.
Specifically, potential jurors will be asked if they or anyone they know has been involved with the Trump campaign or administration, whether they follow Trump on social media, and if they have any affiliations with groups such as QAnon, Proud Boys, or Antifa. Questions on how jurors perceive Trump’s treatment in the case and whether they have strong opinions on a former president facing criminal charges will also be included. Importantly, the questionnaire does not ask about political affiliations, voting history, or political contributions.
The criminal trial against Trump involves 34 counts of falsifying business records, with prosecutors alleging that he misidentified payments in 2017 as legal services when they were actually reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. These payments were reportedly made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her silent about an affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, but has tried multiple tactics to delay or push back the trial. These efforts include trying to get the judge to recuse himself and claiming presidential immunity, both of which have been rejected.
In a last-minute attempt to delay the trial, Trump has filed a lawsuit against Judge Merchan, challenging the gag order placed on him and seeking a delay in the proceedings. The gag order was expanded by Merchan after Trump repeatedly attacked the judge and his daughter on social media. It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will impact the timeline for the trial, but Merchan has been firm in moving forward with jury selection beginning on April 15. The release of the jury questionnaire provides insight into the types of questions potential jurors will face as they are vetted for the high-profile case.
As the trial approaches and jury selection looms, the focus is on how potential jurors will answer the detailed questions provided by Judge Merchan. The questionnaire delves into a range of topics, from media consumption to affiliations and opinions on the case. Trump’s legal team’s last-ditch effort to delay the trial by suing Judge Merchan adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle. With no questions about political affiliations or voting history, the jury selection process will likely focus on impartiality and the ability of jurors to fairly assess the evidence in what promises to be a closely watched trial.
