(The Center Square) – Efforts to pick a jury continued Tuesday, the second day of former President Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial.
Trump is the first president to face criminal charges, which he described as a politically motivated prosecution designed to keep him from returning to the White House in a re-match with President Joe Biden this November.
The process of picking 12 jurors and six alternates could take the rest of the week.
Judge Juan Merchan said he expected opening statements to begin Monday, The Hill reported. As of Tuesday, six jurors had been selected.
Trump again lashed out on his social media platform and has used the trial to underscore his fundraising efforts.
“This conflicted, Trump Hating Judge won’t let me respond to people that are on TV lying and spewing hate all day long,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday. “He is running rough shod over my lawyers and legal team. The New York System of ‘Justice’ is being decimated by critics from all over the World. I want to speak, or at least be able to respond. Election Interference! RIGGED, UNCONSTITUTIONAL TRIAL! Take off the Gag Order!!!”
Trump pleaded not guilty in April 2023 to 34 felony counts related to charges he paid off Stormy Daniels through a lawyer before the 2016 presidential election and covered it up as a legal expense before being elected president.
Trump faces 88 felony charges spread across four cases in Florida, Georgia, New York and Washington.
