Current:Home > StocksHere are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked -Mastery Money Tools
Here are the questions potential jurors in Trump's "hush money" trial will be asked
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:36:28
"Do you listen to or watch podcasts? If so, which ones?"
"Do you listen to talk radio? If so, which programs?"
"Do you currently follow Donald Trump on any social media site or have you done so in the past?"
Potential jurors will face a quiz like none other while being considered for a seat at the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history.
"Have you ever considered yourself a supporter of or belonged to any of the following:
- "the QAnon movement
- "Proud Boys
- "Oathkeepers
- "Three Percenters
- "Boogaloo Boys
- "Antifa"
More than 500 Manhattanites have been sent notices to appear April 15 at the borough's criminal court, where prosecutors and lawyers for Trump will try to select 12, plus a few alternates, who can set aside their opinions about one of the world's most famous and divisive people.
Trump has entered a not guilty plea to 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in the case, which stems from alleged efforts to hide "hush money" payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of pursuing the case for political gain.
That's a claim he and his lawyers will not be allowed to make during the trial. Instead, the judge will require them to present a case focused on whether the allegations are true or false, and whether Trump broke the law.
Here is how the judge will describe the case to jurors, according to a court filing made public Monday:
"The allegations are in substance, that Donald Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. Specifically, it is alleged that Donald Trump made or caused false business records to hide the true nature of payments made to Michael Cohen, by characterizing them as payment for legal services rendered pursuant to a retainer agreement. The People allege that in fact, the payments were intended to reimburse Michael Cohen for money he paid to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, in the weeks before the presidential election to prevent her from publicly revealing details about a past sexual encounter with Donald Trump."
Potential jurors will be given a questionnaire with 42 questions, ranging from the mundane and common ("What do you do for a living?" "Have you ever served on a jury before?") to the more pointed ("Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for any anti-Trump group or organization?").
Prosecutors proposed questions that delved further into potential jurors' politics, but some were scrapped by Judge Juan Merchan. At a Feb. 15 hearing, a prosecutor said Bragg's office wanted a question that would probe potential jurors about whether they believed Trump's false claim that he won the 2020 election.
Trump's lawyers objected to that question — "Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen?" — and it is not on questionnaire made public Monday.
During the arduous, potentially dayslong process of jury selection, many potential jurors will be singled out for individualized questioning by Trump's lawyers and prosecutors.
But all will first answer the questions below:
- In:
- Donald Trump
Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]
veryGood! (49955)
Related
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Marylanders Overpaid $1 Billion in Excessive Utility Bills. Some Lawmakers and Advocates Are Demanding Answers
- Hey Now, Hilary Duff’s 2 Daughters Are All Grown Up in Sweet Twinning Photo
- How Lea Michele Is Honoring Cory Monteith's Light 10 Years After His Tragic Death
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Meghan King Reveals Wedding Gift President Joe Biden Gave Her and Ex Cuffe Biden Owens
- 3 dead in Serbia after a 2nd deadly storm rips through the Balkans this week
- The Most-Cited Number About the Inflation Reduction Act Is Probably Wrong, and That Could Be a Good Thing
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Micellar Water You’ll Dump Makeup Remover Wipes For From Bioderma, Garnier & More
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- How Lea Michele Is Honoring Cory Monteith's Light 10 Years After His Tragic Death
- U.K. leader Rishi Sunak's Conservatives suffer more election losses
- Will Smith, Glenn Close and other celebs support for Jamie Foxx after he speaks out on medical condition
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- In the Amazon, Indigenous and Locally Controlled Land Stores Carbon, but the Rest of the Rainforest Emits Greenhouse Gases
- Selena Gomez Confirms Her Relationship Status With One Single TikTok
- Patrick Mahomes Is Throwing a Hail Mary to Fellow Parents of Toddlers
Recommendation
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Environmental Advocates Protest Outside EPA Headquarters Over the Slow Pace of New Climate and Clean Air Regulations
Loose lion that triggered alarm near Berlin was likely a boar, officials say
Shawn Johnson Weighs In On Her Cringe AF Secret Life of the American Teenager Cameo
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
Educator, Environmentalist, Union Leader, Senator, Paul Pinsky Now Gets to Turn His Climate Ideals Into Action
Matthew Lawrence Teases His Happily Ever After With TLC's Chilli
4 reasons why now is a good time to buy an electric vehicle