Trump hush money trial live updates: Jury seated in case – ABC News
LIVE UPDATES
Former President Trump is on trial in Day 3 of his criminal hush money case.
Full jury seated for Trump’s hush money trial
Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Jury selection could take up to two weeks, with the entire trial expected to last between six and eight weeks.
READ MORE: Here’s what you need to know about the historic case.
Following court, Trump exited the courtroom where he reiterated to reporters that he spent the day in the courtroom instead of campaigning for president.
“I’m supposed to be in … New Hampshire … I’m supposed to be in Georgia. I’m supposed to be in North Carolina, South Carolina. I’m supposed to be in a lot of different places campaigning, but I’ve been here all day on a trial that really is a very unfair trial,” he said.
The former president went on to claim that legal experts and various media outlets suggest there’s no case.
“The case is ridiculous,” he said. “It’s missing fraud. There is no fraud.”
A reporter, appearing to refer to a prospective juror who criticized Trump in a social media post, shouted, “The juror called you selfish. How does that make you feel?” but Trump did not respond and exited the hallway. The prospective juror was not selected for the jury.
-Kelsey Walsh and Michael Pappano
Judge Juan Merchan has recessed court for the day.
Proceedings will resume tomorrow with plans to choose the remaining alternates for the jury.
Prosecutors are keeping their cards close to vest regarding who the first witnesses called at trial will be.
When defense attorney Todd Blanche requested the names of the first three state witnesses, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass declined to provide the name of the first planned witnesses following opening statements.
“Mr. Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses,” Steinglass said. “We are not telling you who the witnesses are.”
Blanche attempted to ease that concern by vowing that the former president would not post about the likely witness.
“I don’t think you can make that representation,” Judge Juan Merchan said.
On a separate matter, Merchand said that if time permits tomorrow, he plans to hold a planned hearing on the bounds of Trump’s cross-examination if he opts to testify.
Judge Merchan indicated that his goal is to have opening statements in the trial begin on Monday morning.
“We can’t start until every single one of you is here,” Merchan said to the newly sworn-in jury members, urging them to inform him if they encounter any delay.
After the jury was sworn in, former President Trump sat stone-faced at the defense table with his hands locked, staring at the jury as they left the courtroom.