By JENNIFER PELTZ, MICHAEL R. SISAK, JAKE OFFENHARTZ and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Attorneys worked on Friday to complete the group of 12 jurors and six alternates who will listen to Donald Trump's hush money trial, while the former president criticized a gag order that has led to prosecutors trying to hold him in contempt of court.
After a jury of 12 New Yorkers was seated Thursday, lawyers focused on selecting alternates who can promise to fairly judge the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Thursday’s events showed how unpredictable the jury selection process can be in such a high-profile case, with two jurors who had been seated a day earlier being removed from the panel.
The judge has indicated that opening statements might start as soon as Monday, before prosecutors lay out their case accusing Trump of trying to cover up negative stories that he was afraid would harm his 2016 presidential campaign.
The trial will bring Trump to a Manhattan courtroom for weeks, requiring him to balance his dual role as a defendant in a criminal case and a political candidate during his highly competitive race against President Joe Biden. The trial will include sensational and unflattering testimony that his opponent will likely use to try to portray Trump as unsuitable to return as president.
Trump insists he did nothing wrong and has portrayed himself as the target of a justice system driven by political motives aimed at keeping him out of the White House.
The judge and attorneys have spent days questioning New Yorkers about their opinions on Trump, and many have been dismissed for saying they couldn’t be fair. Those chosen to hear the case include a sa