Rep. Dan Goldman of New York, a former federal prosecutor, weighs in on the first day of court in former President Trump’s hush money trial, saying he is glad the jury selection process was thorough. Ta. The jury will be “crucial” in the case.
“Then I wonder who is actually setting him or herself apart because of bias? Is it bias against Trump? Is it bias against Trump? It’s so hard to tell.” Goldman told MSNBC. Jen Psaki Monday evening. “But I think the sanctity of the jury is going to be extremely important in this trial, so I’m glad to see the outright outrage of the jury.”
“This will be a model for many Americans for how criminal justice works and how the rule of law in our country works,” he added. “And no one, former president or anyone else, is above the law.”
Trump made history on Monday as the first former or current U.S. president to face a criminal trial. Prosecutors in the case say President Trump paid off Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney, who paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up allegations of an affair before the 2016 presidential election. He claimed that he illegally falsified business records.
Nearly 100 New Yorkers filled the courtroom on the first day of jury selection. But by the end of the day, it was clear how difficult it would be to find a committee of impartial jurists.
Of the 96 potential jurors who appeared in court, about half told the judge that a fair and impartial trial could not be held in the former president’s case. The jury selection process continues Tuesday morning, but the search could easily drag on.
Ultimately, 12 jurors and six alternates must be selected.
Goldman said the trial will give many Americans a new understanding of criminal trials and the rule of law in this country, as Trump will be “treated like any other defendant” and politicization will be kept out of the courtroom. He said it would make them understand how it works.
“Following the rule of law, only facts and evidence are coming in,” Goldman told Psaki, the former White House press secretary. “And jurors will ultimately decide whether the evidence… proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump committed these crimes.”
“That’s the basis of our great system,” he said.
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