Former President Trump’s defense team is challenging jury selection in his criminal hush money trial, saying there are troubling issues that need to be addressed.
Trump’s defense submitted a pretrial letter to the court on Friday outlining two concerns related to jury selection. The letter arrived the same day that Judge Juan Merchán rejected a last-ditch attempt by Trump’s team to delay the trial, which begins Monday.
The letter states that the defense opposes dismissing potential jurors who “identify themselves as unfit to serve,” calling it inappropriate. Instead, the defense said they want to use a hybrid approach to differentiate between jurors they claim cannot be fair and impartial and those who simply cannot serve.
“Such clarity is necessary so that President Trump can present arguments to the First Department, when necessary, regarding the number of potential jurors who believed they harbored disqualifying bias prior to questioning, as well as the number of additional potential jurors who reveal a disqualifying bias”. disqualifying bias during interrogation,” the letter said.
‘I TELL THE TRUTH’: TRUMP SAYS HE WILL TESTIMONY IN HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS JUDGE REJECTS LAST MINUTE PLEA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at 40 Wall Street following a pretrial hearing on March 25, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchán scheduled Trump’s criminal trial to begin on April 15, which would make it the first criminal trial against a former US president. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to cover up a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 election. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The defense also claims the jury questionnaire benefits the district attorney’s office by identifying people affiliated with Trump’s political party.
“Second, while we agree that whether a potential juror ‘likes or dislikes’ President Trump is not the central focus of jury selection, it is well established that a potential juror’s ‘negative opinion’ potential juror is a form of ‘actual bias.'” says the letter.
Trump’s defense claimed the questionnaire lacks similarly extensive research to identify potential jurors who align with rival political parties who are not necessarily “anti-Trump” but could still support a disqualifying bias that deserves a follow-up investigation. on the part of the defense. .
“The Court’s questionnaire asks about connections to any other political entities affiliated with Mr. Trump, which is a fairly direct inquiry into Republican Party affiliation. On the other hand, however, Questions 29.EH only ask about groups.” anti-Trump.’ People can have political or policy opinions that lead to disqualifying bias without being “anti-Trump.” Therefore, the questionnaire benefits DANY by identifying people who affiliate with President Trump’s political party “the letter continues.
TRUMP’S NAME USED ‘INCORRECTLY’ IN THE TIMES’ OJ SIMPSON OBITUARY: ‘FREUD LIVES’
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media while attending a pretrial hearing at Criminal Court on March 25, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images)
“To the extent the Court does not address this asymmetry in the questionnaire, defense counsel should be allowed leeway to investigate such affiliations during the jury selection process,” the letter concludes.
Trump’s trial is related to allegations that he falsified business records to cover up a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election and is scheduled to begin Monday.
“I’m testifying. I’m telling the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth,” Trump told reporters at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. “And the truth is that there is no case.”
Trump called his trial a “scam” and “witch hunt” when asked if he planned to testify at his upcoming trial.
“What they have done is incredible. It is electoral interference and it has to stop. It is a third world country. This country has never done it,” said the former president.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump’s trial comes as he prepares to challenge President Biden for another term in the White House later this year. Hunter Biden, the president’s son, faces his own legal challenges, including federal taxes and gun charges.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
