Dozens of jurors refuse to attend Donald Trump's trial

(Patria) - The judge in Donald Trump's bribery trial dismissed dozens of potential jurors yesterday who said they could not impartially decide whether the former US president was guilty or innocent.

On the first day of the historic trial of a former president, Judge Juan Merchan told a hundred potential jurors that they must set aside any prejudices or personal views about the defendant or the case, including "political orientation".

At least 50 were dismissed after saying they could not be impartial in the trial of the Republican presidential candidate. Those who said they could not perform the duty for other reasons also left the trial.

- I just couldn't - one potential juror was heard saying outside the courtroom, Hina reports.

Lawyers for both sides will seek to select twelve jurors and six alternates in likely the only criminal case Trump faces before the November 5 election.

Selecting a jury from people in highly Democratic Manhattan could take several days, followed by opening statements and witness testimony.

Merchan said that to convict him, jurors must find Trump guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt," not "probably" guilty.

A guilty verdict would not prevent Trump from being president, but half of independent voters and one in four Republicans say they will not vote for him if convicted, a Reuters and Ipsos poll showed.

Trump was in court in Manhattan yesterday. The businessman, who became a politician and served as president from 2017 to 2021, has used past court appearances to rally his supporters and claim he is being persecuted by political enemies.

New York prosecutors accuse him of falsifying documents to conceal a $130,000 payment made near the end of the 2016 presidential campaign to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels about their brief 2006 affair, which she claims happened and Trump denies.

Witnesses will include Daniels and Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, who testified that he made the payment to Daniels. Trump also plans to testify.

Trump pleaded not guilty and claims he is being persecuted for political reasons.

Although some legal experts consider this trial the least important of the four criminal proceedings against Trump, it is the only one that will take place before the November 5 presidential election.