Current:Home > MyHere are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked -Mastery Money Tools
Here are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked
View
Date:2025-04-15 20:35:05
"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! (89)
Related
- Tropical weather brings record rainfall. Experts share how to stay safe in floods.
- Online overseas ballots for Montana voters briefly didn’t include Harris as a candidate
- Man serving life for Alabama murder also sentenced in Wisconsin killing
- Gunman in Colorado supermarket shooting is the latest to fail with insanity defense
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Patrick Mahomes Defends Travis Kelce Amid Criticism of Tight End's NFL Performance
- Former FTX executive Caroline Ellison faces sentencing
- Damar Hamlin gets first career interception in Bills' MNF game vs. Jaguars
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Motel 6 owner Blackstone sells chain to Indian hotel startup for $525 million
Ranking
- USA women's basketball live updates at Olympics: Start time vs Nigeria, how to watch
- Hello, I’m Johnny Cash’s statue: A monument to the singer is unveiled at the US Capitol
- Man serving life for Alabama murder also sentenced in Wisconsin killing
- Emory Callahan Introduction
- PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
- How Craig Conover Is Already Planning for Kids With Paige DeSorbo
- GOLDEN BLOCK SERVICES PTY LTD
- Severe obesity is on the rise in the US
Recommendation
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Hurry! Last Day to Save Up to 70% at BoxLunch: $3 Sanrio Gear, $9 Squishmallows, $11 Peanuts Throw & More
Feds bust Connecticut dealers accused of selling counterfeit pills throughout the US
'Go into hurricane mode now': Helene expected to lash Florida this week
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
The boyfriend of a Navajo woman is set to be sentenced in her killing
Birmingham shaken as search for gunmen who killed 4 intensifies in Alabama
Texas jury clears most ‘Trump Train’ drivers in civil trial over 2020 Biden-Harris bus encounter