Monday marks the first day of Donald Trump’s criminal trial for falsifying business records connected to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump faces 34 felony counts and, unlike past civil trials, Trump is required to be in court for these proceedings. He could face prison time if convicted.
The trial is being conducted in the Manhattan courtroom of New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan. There is no video or audio feed. Mechan has also limited the pool of reporters inside the courtroom to just six. However, dozens of other journalists and analysts are in the overflow room and several of them are providing near real-time feeds of events inside the courtroom. Daily Kos will provide updates from the trial using a variety of on-site sources as well as information compiled by other news outlets.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:39:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan calls a halt on schedule. Court is adjourned and jury selection will resume at 9:30 ET.
Thanks for tuning in today, folks. Judge Merchan seems determined to keep this case moving along, deflecting a number of motions from Trump’s team and postponing the question of whether Trump should be held in contempt for his social media posts until April 23.
The first group of 96 potential jurors entered the courtroom, and more than 50 were allowed to leave after raising their hands to say they did not feel they could be fair and impartial in this case. The first 18 jurors have been seated and roughly half have faced first round questioning. Expect things to pick up there i the morning.
Right now, based on the schedule Mechan has provided and the pace at which things are moving, don’t expect to hear testimony this month, but do expect to see the jurors selected and a number of additional motions done in.
As Trump leaves the courtroom, it will be interesting to see if he takes the delay in considering a contempt citation as permission to hector witnesses again. But whatever he thinks, he’ll be back in court tomorrow.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:32:35 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
A good answer, but not one that Trump’s attorneys are going to like.
Remember that these are just the voir dire questions. Merchan allowing more than half the jurors in the first batch to go home on a simple “can you be fair and impartial” may seem like the right move when you have over 500 jurors to sift for 12 primary jurors and some backups, but things are thinning out pretty quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:26:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
There are 42 questions in the juror questionnaire. So even though the 18 potential jurors who were seated seem to be moving through them pretty quickly, it will take some time to get even this group through the first round.
Meanwhile, over 100 more potential jurors are waiting in the hallway. Not sure they’ll be doing anything today.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:24:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Underway with juror questions again. The original schedule called for the end of the court day at 4:30 ET, but so far things are moving along.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:59:41 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And it’s time for an afternoon break. Apparently, Trump doesn’t like people talking about his sleeping habits.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:56:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:52:50 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Another one goes out.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:47:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
First potential juror to answer questions is a young woman of color who says she watches CNN.
Second is reportedly a white creative director who says he reads the New York Times. That answer is probably going to come up a lot, considering that the jurors are from New York.
First round of questioning seems to be moving quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:36:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
18 of the remaining jurors have been seated in the jury box. We may get some questions to them before the day is over.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:20:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:15:39 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Wow. So far more than 50 jurors have said they couldn’t be impartial in this case. Hands are still going up. Over half the initial set of jurors are gone.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:05:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Seven jurors leave when asked if they think they can be fair and impartial. No idea if this includes the giggler.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:02:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Meanwhile, Trump seems to have gone out again. If he starts to snore, Judge Mechan should just whisper at everyone to be silent, tiptoe out, and leave him.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:59:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan explained that this case is “The People of the State of New York vs. Donald Trump” and informed the jurors that the defendant was Donald Trump. According to The New York Times jurors craned these necks for a good look at Trump. One woman reportedly giggled.
That seems like an appropriate response.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:47:24 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan had hinted that his instructions might include something like this. Now it’s explicit.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:39:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
It’s going to be interesting to hear details from this.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:36:43 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Reportedly four women and one man in the jury pool are wearing masks. It’s going to be surprising if any of them make it through.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:34:55 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:32:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Okay. Please ignore my speculation about Merchan holding his Wednesdays open to address issues as they come up. The contempt hearing has been moved back a day, which is good in that it’s being dealt with that much sooner, bad in that this was one of the few days scheduled this month.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:30:28 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
It’s 2:30 PM in New York. No juror has yet taken a question.
I don’t suppose he can make them stay until they’re done. But please, let’s get a few of them in front of the judge.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:27:56 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Whatever woke Trump up is still bothering him.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:20:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan announces that at the start of Tuesday’s session, he will address Trump about his options for testimony. This is a standard step, required under law, so not a response to anything Trump has done in or out of the courtroom.
Actual prospective jurors are now filing in.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:18:25 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Per The New York Times coverage of the trial, Trump supporters who had gathered in a park near the courthouse have largely wandered away. Peak attendance was around 150 people.
Not enough to stage a new insurrection.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:13:19 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Interesting — the date that Merchan set to hear arguments on contempt is a Wednesday (Apr 24). This morning, the judge left this date off his announced schedule.
So maybe the idea is to preserve Wednesdays for dealing with issues that arise during the trial. It’s certainly one way to keep things ticking along.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:08:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Back to talking about the supposed purpose of the day as both defense and prosecution are given one copy each of a list of prospective jurors complete with some basic information. Neither side is allowed to make a copy of the list.
That instruction has to make Trump so, so want to make a copy. Or maybe he can get Loomer to do it.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:03:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Preview of the days ahead.
Loomer is present at the courthouse.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:00:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan seems much more upset about something else.
And that seems to be generating some agitation from Trump in response.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:57:54 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump’s attorneys were served the order to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. They get four days to prepare a response. Then arguments on April 24.
Mark this down as another day in which Trump isn’t held accountable.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:50:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan announces he will not rule on the gag order for nine days. Trump is bound to take this as a holiday from constraints.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:40:39 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
The video is not currently on in the overflow room. Hopefully, that will be remedied before proceedings resume.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:37:57 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump has reportedly reentered the courtroom. Things should be getting underway again soon.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:27:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
To clarify the aspect of the gag order that the district attorney’s office has asked Merchan to address, it’s not Trump’s attack on the judge’s daughter or claims about the justice system.
The cited messages are attacks Trump has made on prospective witnesses including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Trump issued a series of messages in the last week that the prosecution views as being in violation of the expanded gag order originally issued in March.
Before going off to lunch, Trump was given a Parker warning.
Other than leaning across the table and glaring at people, it’s not clear Trump has done anything disruptive in the courtroom so far, but Merchan might be anticipating a response to a contempt citation. Or he may simply be covering his bases.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:04:34 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Via The New York Times, just before we went to lunch break:
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:27:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And the result is … another break.
The court is out for an hour. Grab a meal.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:25:27 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Here we go. Trump is reportedly leaning across the defense table to glare at Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy as he makes this request.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:11:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:09:52 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan is asking prosecutors to wait on the motion that might result in Trump being held in contempt because he wants to go over the process of jury selection. The judge also says he’s had to limit motions because of a flood of motions from Trump’s attorneys.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:07:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Considering the scheduling discussion this morning, it appears there will only be seven days of trial in April, two of which are half days. So don’t expect this queue to be cleared up soon.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:56:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
As with many breaks, this one has now extended over half an hour beyond when it was supposed to end. Hang in there.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:54:09 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
MSNBC commentator Tristan Snell, who was one of the prosecutors in the Trump University case.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:38:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
This seems like it could be coming to a head very quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:36:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Not everyone outside is on Trump’s side. There’s also reportedly a guy playing anti-Trump songs on a flute.
Court is just returning from a short break. The issue of the gag order is coming right up.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:29:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Politico reports that Trump supporters outside the courtroom are outnumbered by the news media. A paucity of Trump supporters has been evident in every trial and court appearance so far.
Andrew Giuliani and Laura Loomer are reportedly there, along with pundits from Newsmax. They may not be getting the images they want.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:24:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump has arguably already been going beyond the bounds of Merchan’s gag order, and it looks like prosecutors are set to test that shortly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:22:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Prosecutors are continuing with evidentiary issues. They didn’t get everything they wanted when it comes to “Access Hollywood” (Merchan didn’t allow in discussion of the tape that appeared in an earlier civil trial), but they got a lot.
Now they’re going after selections from Trump’s meaty collection of social media posts, especially those that might bolster the idea that witnesses in the case feel threatened.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:13:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
One of the first issues Merchan has dealt with is Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” tape. The tape itself has been excluded, but prosecutors have secured the right to use the transcript.
That email chain includes some big names in the Trump campaign and how they reacted to the release of the tape.
Monday is slated to be the first day of jury selection. This process is expected to last for several days.
The trial is being conducted in the Manhattan courtroom of New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan. There is no video or audio feed. Mechan has also limited the pool of reporters inside the courtroom to just six. However, dozens of other journalists and analysts are in the overflow room and several of them are providing near real-time feeds of events inside the courtroom. Daily Kos will provide updates from the trial using a variety of on-site sources as well as information compiled by other news outlets.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:39:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan calls a halt on schedule. Court is adjourned and jury selection will resume at 9:30 ET.
Thanks for tuning in today, folks. Judge Merchan seems determined to keep this case moving along, deflecting a number of motions from Trump’s team and postponing the question of whether Trump should be held in contempt for his social media posts until April 23.
The first group of 96 potential jurors entered the courtroom, and more than 50 were allowed to leave after raising their hands to say they did not feel they could be fair and impartial in this case. The first 18 jurors have been seated and roughly half have faced first round questioning. Expect things to pick up there i the morning.
Right now, based on the schedule Mechan has provided and the pace at which things are moving, don’t expect to hear testimony this month, but do expect to see the jurors selected and a number of additional motions done in.
As Trump leaves the courtroom, it will be interesting to see if he takes the delay in considering a contempt citation as permission to hector witnesses again. But whatever he thinks, he’ll be back in court tomorrow.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:32:35 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
A good answer, but not one that Trump’s attorneys are going to like.
Remember that these are just the voir dire questions. Merchan allowing more than half the jurors in the first batch to go home on a simple “can you be fair and impartial” may seem like the right move when you have over 500 jurors to sift for 12 primary jurors and some backups, but things are thinning out pretty quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:26:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
There are 42 questions in the juror questionnaire. So even though the 18 potential jurors who were seated seem to be moving through them pretty quickly, it will take some time to get even this group through the first round.
Meanwhile, over 100 more potential jurors are waiting in the hallway. Not sure they’ll be doing anything today.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 8:24:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Underway with juror questions again. The original schedule called for the end of the court day at 4:30 ET, but so far things are moving along.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:59:41 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And it’s time for an afternoon break. Apparently, Trump doesn’t like people talking about his sleeping habits.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:56:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:52:50 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Another one goes out.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:47:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
First potential juror to answer questions is a young woman of color who says she watches CNN.
Second is reportedly a white creative director who says he reads the New York Times. That answer is probably going to come up a lot, considering that the jurors are from New York.
First round of questioning seems to be moving quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:36:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
18 of the remaining jurors have been seated in the jury box. We may get some questions to them before the day is over.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:20:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:15:39 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Wow. So far more than 50 jurors have said they couldn’t be impartial in this case. Hands are still going up. Over half the initial set of jurors are gone.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:05:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Seven jurors leave when asked if they think they can be fair and impartial. No idea if this includes the giggler.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 7:02:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Meanwhile, Trump seems to have gone out again. If he starts to snore, Judge Mechan should just whisper at everyone to be silent, tiptoe out, and leave him.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:59:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan explained that this case is “The People of the State of New York vs. Donald Trump” and informed the jurors that the defendant was Donald Trump. According to The New York Times jurors craned these necks for a good look at Trump. One woman reportedly giggled.
That seems like an appropriate response.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:47:24 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan had hinted that his instructions might include something like this. Now it’s explicit.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:39:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
It’s going to be interesting to hear details from this.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:36:43 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Reportedly four women and one man in the jury pool are wearing masks. It’s going to be surprising if any of them make it through.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:34:55 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:32:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Okay. Please ignore my speculation about Merchan holding his Wednesdays open to address issues as they come up. The contempt hearing has been moved back a day, which is good in that it’s being dealt with that much sooner, bad in that this was one of the few days scheduled this month.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:30:28 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
It’s 2:30 PM in New York. No juror has yet taken a question.
I don’t suppose he can make them stay until they’re done. But please, let’s get a few of them in front of the judge.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:27:56 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Whatever woke Trump up is still bothering him.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:20:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan announces that at the start of Tuesday’s session, he will address Trump about his options for testimony. This is a standard step, required under law, so not a response to anything Trump has done in or out of the courtroom.
Actual prospective jurors are now filing in.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:18:25 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Per The New York Times coverage of the trial, Trump supporters who had gathered in a park near the courthouse have largely wandered away. Peak attendance was around 150 people.
Not enough to stage a new insurrection.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:13:19 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Interesting — the date that Merchan set to hear arguments on contempt is a Wednesday (Apr 24). This morning, the judge left this date off his announced schedule.
So maybe the idea is to preserve Wednesdays for dealing with issues that arise during the trial. It’s certainly one way to keep things ticking along.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:08:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Back to talking about the supposed purpose of the day as both defense and prosecution are given one copy each of a list of prospective jurors complete with some basic information. Neither side is allowed to make a copy of the list.
That instruction has to make Trump so, so want to make a copy. Or maybe he can get Loomer to do it.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:03:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Preview of the days ahead.
Loomer is present at the courthouse.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 6:00:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan seems much more upset about something else.
And that seems to be generating some agitation from Trump in response.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:57:54 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump’s attorneys were served the order to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. They get four days to prepare a response. Then arguments on April 24.
Mark this down as another day in which Trump isn’t held accountable.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:50:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan announces he will not rule on the gag order for nine days. Trump is bound to take this as a holiday from constraints.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:40:39 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
The video is not currently on in the overflow room. Hopefully, that will be remedied before proceedings resume.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:37:57 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump has reportedly reentered the courtroom. Things should be getting underway again soon.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:27:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
To clarify the aspect of the gag order that the district attorney’s office has asked Merchan to address, it’s not Trump’s attack on the judge’s daughter or claims about the justice system.
The cited messages are attacks Trump has made on prospective witnesses including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Trump issued a series of messages in the last week that the prosecution views as being in violation of the expanded gag order originally issued in March.
Before going off to lunch, Trump was given a Parker warning.
Other than leaning across the table and glaring at people, it’s not clear Trump has done anything disruptive in the courtroom so far, but Merchan might be anticipating a response to a contempt citation. Or he may simply be covering his bases.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 5:04:34 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Via The New York Times, just before we went to lunch break:
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:27:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And the result is … another break.
The court is out for an hour. Grab a meal.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:25:27 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Here we go. Trump is reportedly leaning across the defense table to glare at Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy as he makes this request.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:11:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:09:52 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Merchan is asking prosecutors to wait on the motion that might result in Trump being held in contempt because he wants to go over the process of jury selection. The judge also says he’s had to limit motions because of a flood of motions from Trump’s attorneys.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 4:07:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Considering the scheduling discussion this morning, it appears there will only be seven days of trial in April, two of which are half days. So don’t expect this queue to be cleared up soon.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:56:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
As with many breaks, this one has now extended over half an hour beyond when it was supposed to end. Hang in there.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:54:09 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
MSNBC commentator Tristan Snell, who was one of the prosecutors in the Trump University case.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:38:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
This seems like it could be coming to a head very quickly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:36:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Not everyone outside is on Trump’s side. There’s also reportedly a guy playing anti-Trump songs on a flute.
Court is just returning from a short break. The issue of the gag order is coming right up.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:29:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Politico reports that Trump supporters outside the courtroom are outnumbered by the news media. A paucity of Trump supporters has been evident in every trial and court appearance so far.
Andrew Giuliani and Laura Loomer are reportedly there, along with pundits from Newsmax. They may not be getting the images they want.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:24:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Trump has arguably already been going beyond the bounds of Merchan’s gag order, and it looks like prosecutors are set to test that shortly.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:22:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Prosecutors are continuing with evidentiary issues. They didn’t get everything they wanted when it comes to “Access Hollywood” (Merchan didn’t allow in discussion of the tape that appeared in an earlier civil trial), but they got a lot.
Now they’re going after selections from Trump’s meaty collection of social media posts, especially those that might bolster the idea that witnesses in the case feel threatened.
UPDATE: Monday, Apr 15, 2024 · 3:13:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
One of the first issues Merchan has dealt with is Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” tape. The tape itself has been excluded, but prosecutors have secured the right to use the transcript.
That email chain includes some big names in the Trump campaign and how they reacted to the release of the tape.
Monday is slated to be the first day of jury selection. This process is expected to last for several days.