Potential jurors in former President Trump’s hush money trial are expected to be asked about QAnon and Antifa, but not about their political affiliation.
The New York judge overseeing Trump’s criminal trial has approved a jury selection questionnaire, which is expected to begin when the trial begins next week.
Judge Juan Melchan on Monday released a list of 42 questions ranging from President Trump’s strong approval or distaste for his involvement in extremist groups and ideologies.
The extremist groups listed include the right-wing Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters and Boogaloo Boys, as well as the left-wing anti-fascist movement Antifa. QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory and political movement that claims a shadowy cabal of Democrats controls every thread of American politics, was also mentioned.
The question avoids asking prospective jurors whether they have voted, donated money, or sympathized with the Democratic or Republican parties.
“Contrary to defense attorneys’ claims, the purpose of jury selection is not to determine whether a prospective juror likes or dislikes one party or the other,” Marchand wrote in a letter accompanying the questionnaire. Ta. “Such questions are irrelevant because they do not address the issue of the qualifications of prospective jurors.”
“The ultimate question is whether we can guarantee that prospective jurors will put aside their personal feelings and biases and reach a verdict based on the evidence and the law,” he added.
Other questions will examine where jurors get their news, whether they have worked for Trump-led businesses or organizations, and whether they attended rallies or protests for or against the former president.
In other questions, panelists discussed Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness in the trial, and a former special assistant on the case who resigned following the resignation of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Ask if they have listened to District Attorney Mark Pomerantz’s podcast. He initially refused to press charges against the former president.
Jurors will also be asked whether they have strong opinions about whether the former president should face criminal charges in state court and whether they have any opinions about how Trump should be treated in the case.
If the case goes to trial next week, it would be Trump’s first criminal trial, and the first for a former U.S. president.
He currently faces 34 charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments Cohen made to porn stars before the 2016 election to cover up allegations of an affair. Mr. Trump has maintained his innocence.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
