Judge Juan Merchán Addresses Impartiality Concerns in Donald Trump Trial, Ruling Out Two Jurors: What You Need to Know

Judge Juan Merchán, overseeing the trial against former President Donald Trump, addressed the issue of selecting an impartial jury before resuming the process on Thursday. Two out of the seven jurors were ruled out by the judge, meaning five more jurors are still needed to begin the hearings. The reasons for exclusion are unknown, but one potential juror was concerned about being identified despite their name not being public. The prosecutor’s office had expressed concern about their credibility based on questionnaire answers.

The judge criticized the press for publishing information that led to jurors being identified and causing one potential juror to be ruled out. He emphasized the importance of not revealing identifying information about the selected jurors to ensure a fair trial for all parties involved.

The trial against Trump involves allegations that he paid $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels to conceal a relationship before the 2016 elections. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 charges brought against him and is expected to face two months of proceedings. Challenges in choosing impartial jurors may cause delays in the proceedings, as several potential jurors have been ruled out for inconsistencies in their statements during selection. One more juror will be questioned for these inconsistencies on Monday.