As the trial of former President Donald Trump unfolds in New York, the vetting of prospective jurors has taken an unusual turn due to the extensive social media histories that are being scrutinized in the courtroom. The case, which centers on the accusation that Trump falsified business records in connection to hush-money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, is now intersected with the digital footprints of those who might judge him.
The selection of the 12 jurors, as reported, seemed to materialize as a theater of contemporary issues around digital privacy, public opinion, and the impartiality of the judicial process. The court had to navigate potential jurors’ past online remarks about Trump, ranging from humorous posts to explicit criticisms, highlighting the complexities of selecting an unbiased jury in the age of social media.
For instance, one prospective juror, a bookseller, had posted a 90-second video of a computer-generated Trump saying, “I’m dumb as f**k.” When queried about the post, they responded, “I honestly don’t remember,” and added, “I thought it would be funny. I don’t recall watching it.”
The jury eventually formed includes individuals with various opinions about Trump, signaling the challenge of finding Manhattanites without preconceived notions of the high-profile defendant. A juror in investment banking mentioned being “ambivalent” about Trump, acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of his presidency. In contrast, another juror expressed that Trump seemed “very selfish and self-serving,” although the defense had exhausted their peremptory strikes, which would allow them to dismiss a juror without cause.
Trump’s response to the jury selection process has been predictably vocal. On his platform, Truth Social, he derided the trial as a “New York scam” and chastised the selection of jurors from a place he considers the “2nd Worst Venue in the Country.” Yet, his defense lawyers strategically used prospective jurors’ past social media posts to argue for their dismissal due to perceived bias, a move echoing Trump’s own adept use of social media as a legal and political tool.
Prosecutors, for their part, sought contempt sanctions against Trump for a series of social media posts which they say violate a gag order relating to public commentary about witnesses. This included referring to Michael Cohen, a key witness and Trump’s former lawyer, as a “serial perjurer.”
Relevant articles:
– The Utter Joy of Watching Trump Watch People Who Despise Him: In his hush-money criminal trial, the former president is coming face to face with potential jurors who have expressed unvarnished opinions of him on social media.
– Trump’s hush money trial now has its 12 jurors, The Associated Press, Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:35:00 GMT
– Trump deploys favorite political tool, social media, as legal cudgel, The Washington Post, Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:00:00 GMT
– Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors spar over ‘lock him up’ posts and 2020 social media. Here’s what you missed on trial Day 2., NBC News, Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:35:49 GMT