Donald Trump hush money trial: Live updates

An appeals courtroom decide has as soon as once more denied a request by Trump’s attorneys to halt his prison trial as they search to have the case moved exterior of Manhattan.

Justice Marsha Michael issued the ruling simply minutes after a quick listening to. The arguments within the midlevel appeals courtroom got here hours after the jury choice course of concluded in Trump’s prison trial, which is presently taking place roughly two miles south.

The ruling will enable opening statements to take place as quickly as Monday in Trump’s prison trial.

Trump left the courtroom with out coming to talk to the cameras. But when requested whether or not he would testify, he turned his head and shouted, “Yes!”

Merchan refused once more to present Trump’s legal professionals a blanket ruling excluding sure proof from his time within the White House on presidential immunity grounds.

Rather, the decide stated, Trump’s legal professionals can argue for immunity on a piece-by-piece foundation throughout the trial. The protection argues three of Trump’s 2018 tweets about Cohen and his 2018 monetary disclosure report — all of that are publicly available — are official acts and due to this fact fall underneath presidential immunity. They additionally contend any testimony about official acts Trump took as president, such because the accounts of former White House workers, must be excluded.

As a taxing week of jury choice and authorized arguments neared an finish with but extra back-and-forth over authorized particulars, the trial decide advised Trump’s legal professionals to cease importuning him to revisit his litany of pretrial rulings.

“I’ve entertained your arguments in good faith, I’ve handed down decisions, but at some point, you need to accept the court’s rulings,” Merchan stated.

“There’s nothing else to clarify. There’s nothing else to reargue. We’re going to have opening statements on Monday morning. This trial is starting.”

Trump’s legal professionals are preventing to maintain prosecutors from questioning him, if he testifies, in regards to the end result of his recent civil fraud trial in addition to a separate defamation case.

In the fraud trial, state Judge Arthur Engoron discovered that Trump, his firm and key executives deceived bankers and insurers for years by grossly padding his wealth on monetary statements used to safe loans and protection.

In the second case, a jury discovered that Trump defamed author E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault years earlier.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove argued these allegations, courting to the Nineties, are “too attenuated, too far back in time to call into question President Trump’s credibility at this trial.”

Trump has stated he desires to testify on the hush money trial, however he’s not required to and may at all times change his thoughts.

Judge Merchan stated he would reserve judgment on whether or not prosecutors can ask Trump about his previous authorized setbacks if he chooses to testify. Merchan stated he would challenge a call within the coming days.

In a quick response, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district legal professional’s workplace, Steven Wu, accused Trump’s attorneys of mischaracterizing the jury choice course of, which he described as “unusually detailed and careful.”

He added that Trump had “amplified and stoked the very press coverage” that had brought about some jurors to rethink if they might serve impartially.

“We have 18 ordinary New Yorkers ready to serve on Monday morning when this trial should begin,” Wu added. “It would be unfair to them and it would be unfair to the public for this trial to be delayed further.”

A choice on the attraction is predicted this afternoon.

An legal professional for Trump, Clifford Robert, is arguing earlier than a midlevel appeals courtroom that Judge Merchan has rushed via the method of jury choice within the hush money prison case, stopping Trump from receiving a good and neutral jury. He is arguing for an interim keep of the trial pending a movement to have the venue moved exterior of Manhattan.

“The way that such a large cross section of people were immediately disqualified because of the biases they mentioned to the court is proof positive … to the predispositions of these people,” Robert stated.

He described the velocity of jury choice as “untenable,” accusing Merchan of failing to correctly uncover bias among the many potential jurors. As an instance, he cited a girl who was initially picked for the jury however requested to be eliminated the next day after acknowledging that she couldn’t be honest.

Trump’s legal professionals and prosecutors are sparring over the prosecution’s request to seal 4 items of proof.

This consists of telephone information and roughly 39,000 contacts saved in Michael Cohen’s cellular phone.

Prosecutors had sought to maintain that proof out of public view as a result of it pertained to 3rd events not concerned within the case. Judge Merchan agreed over the objections of Trump’s legal professionals, who argued prosecutors had been making an attempt to make an finish run round transparency and trampling Trump’s proper to a public trial.

He raised his fist earlier than returning to the courtroom.

With jury choice performed, there may be now a listening to on prosecutors’ need to query the previous president, if he testifies, about his recent civil courtroom losses.

The man who set himself on hearth throughout the road from the courthouse is in important situation in a burn unit, police stated Friday.

The man first walked into the park round 1:30 p.m., took out pamphlets espousing conspiracy theories and unfold them across the park earlier than he doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on hearth, officers stated.

Officials imagine the person had traveled from Florida to New York in the previous few days.

Authorities stated they had been additionally reviewing the safety protocols exterior the courthouse.

“We are very concerned. Of course we are going to review our security protocols,” Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey stated.

Officials will update the press after a person set himself on hearth earlier Friday.

Donald Trump’s authorized crew has filed one other utility with a midlevel state appeals courtroom Friday demanding that it intervene within the case. A listening to was scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

The paperwork weren’t instantly publicly available, however Trump’s legal professionals have gone to the appeals courtroom earlier than making an attempt to get the trial delayed or moved out of Manhattan. They have argued that Trump can’t get a good trial there due to intense publicity. The trial decide had rejected that request.

Passersby rushed to douse the flames and the person was rushed away on a stretcher by emergency crews.

Judge Juan M. Merchan, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding exterior, advised newly chosen jurors that opening statements are set for Monday at 9:30 a.m.

Merchan is predicted to carry a listening to Friday at 3:15 p.m. on the prosecution’s need to query Trump, ought to he testify, relating to his recent civil courtroom losses.

A person might be clearly seen mendacity on the bottom on hearth. People then rushed over with a fireplace extinguisher and labored to bat the flames away.

The newly seated alternates will now be sworn in.

There is just one extra alternate slot remaining.

Over half of the six alternates have been crammed.

An alternate juror listens to the testimony, similar to all the opposite jurors, however doesn’t be part of within the deliberations until one of many important jurors must drop out or is eliminated.

Four further slots nonetheless must be crammed.

A Scandinavian funding skilled gave a considerate reply about Trump, evaluating him as a person, a business mogul and a politician earlier than concluding he had a “neutral, leaning positive” opinion of the ex-president.

When requested by protection lawyer Susan Necheles about his opinion of Trump, he stated the question was “one question that’s asking five or six different things.”

“I think that’s why people kind of struggle with this question,” he stated, explaining that he noticed Trump as a household man and appreciated his tax and financial insurance policies however diverged from him on ladies’s rights and rising non secular affect on the Republican social gathering’s insurance policies.

Only a number of lifelong New Yorkers are remaining on the latest panel of potential jurors. One of them, a chef raised on the Lower East Side, stated his time spent within the metropolis had left him unfazed by Trump’s celeb.

“He’s a New Yorker, I’m a New Yorker,” the person stated. “We don’t get really get starstruck or care about anything like that.”

Under questioning from considered one of Trump’s legal professionals, a possible candidate stated she felt that the previous president’s rhetoric emboldens his supporters to really feel like they’ve “permission to discriminate or act on their negative impulses.” She described interactions the place folks used the president’s title to justify “homophobic” and “racist” feedback.

The potential juror additionally stated she attended the 2017 Women’s March that adopted his inauguration however noticed it as “more of a women’s solidarity event” than an anti-Trump protest. But she stated she didn’t have robust emotions in regards to the former president in the intervening time and wasn’t certain of his present coverage positions.

Another individual was dismissed Friday after blurting out that she felt anxious throughout a separate panelist’s questioning.

“With this line of questioning, I’m getting the same anxiety and self-doubt” that different excused jurors had been elevating, the girl stated. Her remark got here as Trump lawyer Necheles requested a unique jury candidate a number of questions on her means to pretty consider the credibility of a witness like ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who went to jail for mendacity to Congress and different crimes.

A half-dozen potential jurors have been excused from consideration on Friday, a number of citing anxiousness and nervousness introduced on by doubtlessly being related to the high-profile trial.

He watched on as potential jurors affirmed that they might discover the previous president responsible if the allegations in opposition to him had been confirmed past an inexpensive doubt.

As protection lawyer Susan Necheles kicked off her questioning, legal professional Todd Blanche, sitting to Trump’s proper, leaned again and handed the previous president a small, folded slip of paper. He opened and browse the notice earlier than folding it up and peering again on the jury. The two males have been passing notes all morning.

The girl was being questioned by a prosecutor about her means to determine the case based mostly solely on courtroom proof when she started to cry.

“I feel so nervous and anxious right now,” the girl stated via tears. “I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t want someone who feels like this to judge my case either. I don’t want to waste the court’s time. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”

After conferring briefly with the prosecution and protection, Judge Juan M. Merchan dismissed the girl from consideration.

The choice course of has weighed closely on different potential jurors too, with some describing emotions of rising anxiousness and stress because the week has gone on. As they deal with the historic trial and outsized media consideration, these known as into the courtroom are additionally answering a prolonged checklist of private questions, revealing particulars about their household life and brushes with the regulation which have stirred different emotional responses.

He waved to cameras however didn’t reply questions.|

A piece of the questionnaire asking would-be jurors what they love to do of their spare time has revealed an eclectic array of hobbies and passions from the pool.

During the week, the courtroom has been launched to Manhattanites who get pleasure from metalworking, scuba diving and seeing the New York Philharmonic. There had been additionally a number of yogis, hikers and one man who stated he cleans his native canine park as “meditation.”

One girl stated she takes her children to Rubik’s Cube competitions and one other stated she was once an newbie boxer, although famous that “black eyes were frowned upon” in her occupation. Earlier within the week, a potential juror joked that he had no spare time, including later, “I guess my hobby is my family.”

He didn’t communicate as he left the hallway.

Asked if he was married, a Queens-born man joked that he’d been “trying to find a wife in my spare time — it’s not working.” Trump, additionally from Queens, perked up on the comment, taking pictures the person a smile.

New York is essentially the most populous metropolis within the U.S., however Donald Trump‘s criminal trial is showing it can also feel a lot like a small town. A prospective juror said she had connections to not one but two people who’ve been in Trump’s orbit: the previous president’s ex-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who backed Trump in 2020 however later ran in opposition to him.

The girl disclosed that she works on the identical firm as a Cohen relative — although they’ve by no means crossed paths — and that somebody in her household is mates with Christie. Despite that, she assured the courtroom that she might be honest and neutral.

When a potential juror stated he’d volunteered in a “get out the vote” effort for Hillary Clinton’s marketing campaign in opposition to Trump, the previous president perked up and gazed on the jury field. Trump had spent all morning jotting issues down notes and exchanging them along with his legal professionals, however the remark about his 2016 Democratic rival caught his consideration.

Other that the Clinton second, Trump hasn’t seemed up a lot on the potential jurors.

After trying over and smiling earlier within the week at a possible juror who talked about studying a number of of his books, Trump saved his eyes locked on his papers when a person Friday stated he’d learn “The Art of the Deal” 10-15 years in the past when he was pondering of going into the actual property discipline.

Like some others this week, the girl didn’t point out issues about being honest and neutral throughout the preliminary screening however apparently developed misgivings later. After fascinated with the trial final night time, “I don’t think I can be impartial,” she stated.

She is the third potential juror who has been excused immediately.

A Scandinavian native who works in expertise stated he wouldn’t have an issue impartially judging a former president since he comes from a rustic “where the difference between people in power and regular people is less.”

Still, because the questioning continued he stopped at one level to sigh, saying, “This is more stressful than I thought.”

The man stated he goals to devour information from a number of sources, typically listening to NPR and Fox News podcasts on the identical walk. As a passion, he stated he enjoys cleansing his native canine park.

As potential jurors ran via the questionnaire, Trump appeared to lean over on the protection desk, scribbling on some papers and infrequently exchanging notes along with his legal professionals.

But when one potential juror talked about that he follows the White House Instagram account, together with when Trump was in workplace, the previous president seemed up and towards the jury field.

The potential juror, a girl with grownup youngsters, stated that her husband sends her information that appears vital. She stated that she has no robust opinions on Trump and that nothing would affect her choice.

The questionnaire spherical started with a potential juror saying she has anxiousness and isn’t certain she will be able to serve. She stated that she takes medicine for the situation and that as extra days move, “I don’t think I will be able to be completely fair” and centered on the trial. Merchan excused her.

Because there are 22 jurors, Judge Merchan granted a prosecutor’s request for 5 further minutes of questioning. Instead of 20 minutes, prosecutors may have 25 minutes to inquire of the group.

Trump shuffled via papers on the protection desk after walking into courtroom for the fourth day of jury choice.

He turned stoic and stern as information photographers got here in to snap footage of him, as is the each day customized earlier than courtroom resumes.

Twenty-two potential jurors are being introduced in as jury choice is ready to renew. As many as 5 alternate jurors have to be chosen earlier than jury choice is over.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington denied protection legal professionals’ request to place the civil circumstances in search of to carry Trump accountable for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on maintain whereas a separate prison case accusing him of conspiring to overturn his election defeat to President Joe Biden performs out.

The lawsuits introduced by Democratic lawmakers and law enforcement officials who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 search civil damages for hurt they are saying they suffered throughout the attack, which aimed to cease Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory.

▶ Keep up with all 4 circumstances utilizing The Associated Press’ Trump trial tracker.

Speaking to reporters contained in the decrease Manhattan courthouse, the previous president as soon as once more railed in opposition to the trial, demanding Judge Juan M. Merchan elevate a gag order limiting what he can say publicly about witnesses.

“The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me and I have a gag order,” he stated.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan district legal professional’s workplace are presently seeking to effective Trump over violating his gag order after disparaging witnesses within the case on social media. A listening to is ready for subsequent week.

Because the first-ever trial of a former American president is unfolding in New York throughout this yr’s race for the White House, the presumptive Republican nominee will spend his days in courtroom confronted by salacious and unflattering testimony about his private life whereas concurrently campaigning to reclaim the workplace he held for 4 years.

He’s made clear his dedication to make use of his authorized jeopardy, already a central challenge within the race in opposition to Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, to his benefit. After a full day of jury choice, he complained to reporters that he ought to have been out campaigning however was in courtroom as a substitute for what he stated was a “very unfair trial.”

“Everybody’s outraged by it,” he stated. “You know the whole world’s watching this New York scam.”

He raised his proper fist as he headed to his motorcade.

Judge Juan M. Merchan is predicted to carry a listening to Friday to contemplate a request from prosecutors to deliver up Trump’s prior authorized entanglements if he takes the stand within the hush money case.

Manhattan prosecutors have stated they wish to query Trump about his recent civil fraud trial that resulted in a $454 million judgment after a decide discovered Trump had lied about his wealth for years. He is interesting that verdict.

Jury choice proceeded at a plodding tempo Thursday when two of the preliminary seven jurors had been dismissed, one after expressing doubt about her means to be honest after particulars about her id had been disclosed and the opposite over issues that a few of his solutions in courtroom could have been inaccurate.

But late within the day, legal professionals settled on the remaining seven in fast succession, together with one alternate. Judge Juan M. Merchan has stated his purpose is to have 5 further alternates.

Even with the roster of 12 jurors set, it’s nonetheless potential that the lineup could change as proceedings proceed Friday.

The jury of Manhattanites features a gross sales skilled, a software program engineer, a safety engineer, a trainer, a speech therapist, a number of legal professionals, an funding banker and a retired wealth supervisor.

One juror, a person who works in funding banking, earlier described himself as “ambivalent” about Trump, including, “I might not like some of his policies, but there has been some good” for the nation.

A lady picked for the jury stated she thought Trump appeared “very selfish and self-serving,” including, “I don’t really appreciate that from any public servant.” Defense legal professionals had been out of peremptory strikes, which might enable them to dismiss a juror with out giving a motive.

A 3rd panel of potential jurors will likely be questioned immediately in Donald Trump’s hush money case, drawing jury choice a step nearer to completion within the first prison trial of a former U.S. president.

After a jury of 12 New Yorkers was seated Thursday, legal professionals are actually anticipated to show their consideration to selecting remaining alternates who can vow to put aside their private views and impartially decide the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

The decide has urged that opening statements within the prison trial may begin as early as Monday, earlier than prosecutors begin laying out their case alleging a scheme to cowl up adverse tales Trump feared would harm his 2016 presidential marketing campaign.