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- First 7 jurors are chosen for Trump’s hush money criminal trial
- Ex-governor says most excused jurors are trying to be fair
- Hutchinson says a conviction could backfire on Trump’s opponents
() Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says the potential jurors to watch out for in Donald Trump’s hush money trial are the ones “that don’t say very much.”
In a Tuesday interview on ’s “Dan Abrams Live,” Hutchinson warned that defense attorneys and prosecutors need to be wary of quiet jurors as they may not be as impartial as they claim.
Jury selection in the former president’s trial is moving at a faster pace than expected, with seven jurors already seated by the end of the second day of proceedings.
Hutchinson, a former Republican presidential candidate, says the accelerated pace is a “tribute to the judge holding the attorneys’ feet to the issue of selecting a fair juror.”
Despite some potential jurors expressing an inability to be impartial, Hutchinson argued that the jury system should be “valued rather than demonized.” He believes most of those excused were “trying to do the right thing” in disclosing their biases.
The proceedings have not been without drama, as the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, had to repeatedly intervene to address issues with Trump’s behavior in the courtroom.
According to reports, Merchan scolded Trump and his attorneys for the former president “audibly uttering something” and reacting visibly while potential jurors were being questioned. The judge firmly warned that he “will not tolerate” any attempts to intimidate the jurors.
In a new filing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg also asked the court to admonish Trump again about violating the gag order, proposing a 30-day jail sentence if the former president continued his critical comments about the judge, the courts, and even the jurors.
Hutchinson acknowledged that Trump has a point regarding the gag order, arguing that the logic is questionable given the ability of key witness Michael Cohen to freely discuss his testimony on news shows.
Politically, Hutchinson believes a conviction could backfire on Trump’s opponents, as the former president could portray himself as a “victim” if sentenced to jail time. However, the “salacious details” emerging in court could also hurt Trump, creating a “split screen” with President Joe Biden dealing with serious national security issues.
The trial, which centers on hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, is expected to last up to two months as prosecutors build their case against the former president.
