Jury selection completed for Trump’s historic criminal hush-money trial – live | Donald Trump trials

All six alternate jurors chosen

After days of jury selection, the court has finally chosen all 12 jurors and 6 alternate jurors who will decide the fate of Donald Trump in his historic criminal trial.

The selection of all 18 jurors came not without setbacks, as judge Juan Merchan dismissed two seated jurors earlier this week over identity and credibility concerns.

With the jury bench now full, the trial is expected to move towards opening statements next week.

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\n <div class=\”trump-tracker-container\”><div class=\”trump-tracker-group svelte-1l4zo9t\”><h3 class=\”svelte-1l4zo9t\”>Key figures</h3> \n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #cc0a11;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/trump.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Donald Trump\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Donald Trump</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Defendant</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/cohen.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Michael Cohen\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Michael Cohen</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Trump’s former personal counsel</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/daniels.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Stormy Daniels\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Stormy Daniels</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Adult film star</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/mcdougal.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Karen McDougal\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Karen McDougal</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Former Playboy model</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/howard.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Dylan Howard\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Dylan Howard</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Editor-in-chief of National Enquirer</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/pecker.png\” alt=\”Portrait of David Pecker\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>David Pecker</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Former CEO of American Media Inc</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/mcconney.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Jeffrey McConney\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Jeffrey McConney</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Former controller of the Trump Organization</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #e6b3b4;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/weisselberg.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Allen Weisselberg\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Allen Weisselberg</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization</p>\n</div></div>\n\n <div class=\”trump-tracker-group svelte-1l4zo9t\”><h3 class=\”svelte-1l4zo9t\”>Lawyers and judges</h3>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #dcdcdc;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/blanche.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Todd Blanche\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Todd Blanche</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Trump’s lawyer</p>\n</div>\n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #dcdcdc;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/bragg.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Alvin Bragg\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Alvin Bragg</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Manhattan district attorney</p>\n</div>\n \n <div class=\”tracker-person svelte-jqdg4b\”><div class=\”headshot-container svelte-jqdg4b\” style=\”background-color: #dcdcdc;\”><img src=\”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2023/07/trump-litigation-tracker/assets/v/1712958655816/merchan.png\” alt=\”Portrait of Juan Merchan\” class=\”svelte-jqdg4b\”></div>\n <p class=\”tracker-name svelte-jqdg4b\”>Juan Merchan</p>\n <p class=\”tracker-title svelte-jqdg4b\”>Acting judge of the New York supreme court</p>\n</div></div>\n</div>\n</div>”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Who are the key players in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial?”,”elementId”:”0fc3a959-aea8-41ae-9048-496f4214a94f”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/key-players-donald-trump-hush-money-trial”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713536290000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.18 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713539184000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.06 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713536406000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.20 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.20″,”title”:”Who are the key players in the hush-money trial?”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”},{“id”:”6622779c8f085ced9b0b88fe”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Meanwhile, the overflow courtroom was once again abuzz with whispers about <strong>Donald Trump</strong>’s soporific state.</p>”,”elementId”:”98569261-a9f0-4105-a0d4-b07b37335e73″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Just 10 minutes into trial this morning, it appears that his eyes lowered, prompting the perennial question: <a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/trump-asleep-first-day-hush-money-trial\”>Did he doze off again? </a></p>”,”elementId”:”654f21c6-90ba-49e0-b146-b6e9b4f4668d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>He’s since spoken to two of his lawyers, so whatever cat-nap the former commander-in-chief might have enjoyed was brief.</p>”,”elementId”:”9725fe8f-6eb9-4b05-90cc-6ce89be71239″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713534876000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.54 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713534989000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.56 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713534989000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.56 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.56″,”title”:”Trump appears to fall asleep just 10 minutes into trial”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Victoria Bekiempis”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Global/content/icons/2012/1/12/1326399318846/victoriabekiempis_140x140.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d4686d26969d9d9085c81230ba7970a9″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”},{“id”:”662272298f08839e09ac71d9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Judge <strong>Juan Merchan</strong> is also now inside the courtroom and the court is in session.</p>”,”elementId”:”5c393a6e-6e04-4fca-a3a9-a3ab9d380f43″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p><strong>Donald Trump</strong> is sitting at the defense table along with his lawyers, <strong>Todd Blanche, Emil Bove</strong> and <strong>Susan Necheles.</strong></p>”,”elementId”:”4bbcb91c-e2d0-4546-89a6-a7001e7a9046″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Sitting in the back row of the courtroom are Trump aide <strong>Steven Cheung</strong> and lawyer <strong>Cliff Robert, </strong>who was one of Trump’s main attorney’s in the <a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/new-york\” data-component=\”auto-linked-tag\”>New York</a> attorney general’s civil fraud trial.</p>”,”elementId”:”eccc8883-8434-44ad-a6b6-78e5c947fe73″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713533481000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.31 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713533716000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.35 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713533716000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.35 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.35″,”title”:”Court is in session”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”},{“id”:”66226df78f087d0698ef9731″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p><strong>Donald Trump,</strong> speaking to reporters before entering the Manhattan courthouse, once again railed against the hush-money case and called on judge Juan Merchan to remove the gag order against him because it’s “very, very unfair”. Trump said:</p>”,”elementId”:”040708f3-330a-4e5e-9c86-06afb8ba9fb3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<blockquote class=\”quoted\”>\n <p>The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me and I have a gag order, just to show you how much more unfair it is.</p>\n</blockquote>”,”elementId”:”35f6d8a4-26d4-4d34-a872-ee7e404a7bdc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>He added:</p>”,”elementId”:”d3bdf674-f31c-4ae5-a008-dc97c12d597d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<blockquote class=\”quoted\”>\n <p>They’ve taken away my constitutional rights to speak and that includes speaking to you. I have a lot to say to you. And I’m not allowed to say it and I’m the only one.</p>\n</blockquote>”,”elementId”:”1b30f13d-b95a-4ff4-ae4d-9863e5e32d1c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney’s office are looking to fine Trump over violating his gag order after disparaging witnesses in the case on social media. A hearing is set for next week.</p>”,”elementId”:”75eae1ed-c34c-4a94-9e3d-ad526da2cc39″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713532407000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.13 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713532717000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.18 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713532717000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.18 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.18″,”title”:”Trump says gag order ‘has to come off'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”},{“id”:”66225e658f085ced9b0b8746″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Good morning <a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics\”>US politics</a> readers. <strong>Donald Trump</strong> is set to appear in a Manhattan courtroom for the fourth day of his hush-money trial, where a dozen jurors and one alternate have already selected to sit on the first criminal trial of a former president in US history.</p>”,”elementId”:”2b7269e3-5d17-4a8d-9acf-77b7687612ce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Five alternates remain to be chosen before jury selection wraps up and the presiding judge, <strong>Justice Juan Merchan,</strong> has suggested that opening statements could begin as early as Monday.</p>”,”elementId”:”f4d1d568-d926-4fac-9793-fdd07f75eaa8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of the alleged effort to cover up hush money paid to adult actor <strong>Stormy Daniels. </strong>Trump also faces other trials involving his actions on January 6, attempts to subvert the 2020 election in Georgia and charges related to his keeping of classified documents at his resort in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, after he had left office.</p>”,”elementId”:”4d8a9a27-2181-4517-a55f-75197841f982″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p><strong><a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donald-trump-trials\”>Trump’s criminal hush-money trial:</a> what to know</strong></p>”,”elementId”:”9ead2ea5-ec82-4eb5-bf69-724e382b0ccd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<ul>\n <li><p><strong><a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/trump-hush-money-trial\”>A guide to Trump’s hush-money trial</a> – so far</strong></p></li>\n <li><p><strong>The jurors: <a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/18/jurors-trump-hush-money-trial-jury\”>who is on the Trump trial jury?</a></strong></p></li>\n <li><p><strong><a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/trump-hush-money-trial-key-arguments\”>The key arguments</a> prosecutors will use against Trump</strong></p></li>\n <li><p><strong><a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/trumps-first-trial-is-starting-heres-how-itll-work\”>How will Trump’s trial work?</a></strong></p></li>\n <li><p><strong>From Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels: <a href=\”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/key-players-donald-trump-hush-money-trial\”>the key players</a></strong></p></li>\n</ul>”,”elementId”:”f521ebd6-8345-420a-9daa-9e794371a344″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Here’s what else we’re watching:</p>”,”elementId”:”26060d6d-d4b3-4dcf-b4d6-420aab75a56c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<ul>\n <li><p><strong>House Democrats</strong> came to the rescue of <strong>Mike Johnson,</strong> the Republican speaker, in a rare move on Thursday night in order to save the Ukraine aid legislation from right wing rebels.</p></li>\n <li><p><strong>Antony Blinken,</strong> the secretary of state, is in Capri, Italy, for Group of Seven meetings of foreign ministers.</p></li>\n <li><p><strong>Janet Yellen, </strong>the treasury secretary, is in meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington.</p></li>\n <li><p>12pm ET<strong>. Joe Biden</strong> will deliver remarks at the IBEW construction and maintenance conference.</p></li>\n <li><p>1.30pm. White House press secretary <strong>Karine Jean-Pierre</strong> will brief.</p></li>\n</ul>”,”elementId”:”387d43bf-8e66-46de-a5c8-fa8b033a19e3″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713531609000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.00 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713529339000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.22 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713531609000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.00 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.00″,”title”:”Trump’s hush-money trial enters fourth day as jury selection nears to a close”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”},{“id”:”662268148f087d0698ef96cf”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>A full jury of 12 people has been seated in the criminal case against <strong>Donald Trump,</strong> bringing the first criminal trial of a former president a significant step closer to beginning. At least one of six alternate jurors had been selected before court concluded on Thursday.</p>”,”elementId”:”0f7c4e93-896f-4c02-846d-d0fb5faeab5c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>The development came after<strong> </strong>two jurors were removed, underscoring the difficulty of choosing a jury in one of the most high-stakes cases in US history.</p>”,”elementId”:”0d886aaf-83c6-4439-988a-006a70d3a088″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>A woman known only as “Juror Two” appeared briefly before judge <strong>Juan Merchan</strong> to say that she no longer believed she could be unbiased in the case. Since being selected on Tuesday, she had been described in the media and had received a flurry of text messages from friends and family that led her to believe she had been identified. The judge excused her.</p>”,”elementId”:”431c9d42-8431-4a98-a779-36930f47636a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Her dismissal came as reporters have been hanging on every detail they can glean about the 12 jurors who will determine Trump’s criminal fate. Fox News’s <strong>Jesse Watters</strong> also did a segment on Tuesday that directly attacked the jurors, including Juror Two. “I’m not so sure about Juror No 2,” <a href=\”https://www.thedailybeast.com/jesse-watters-goes-juror-by-juror-to-sow-doubt-in-trump-hush-money-case\”>Watters said</a> on his show on Tuesday.</p>”,”elementId”:”59b0168e-9b18-419a-8057-de79c6d3fca1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>A second juror was excused after prosecutors expressed concerns that he may not have been truthful on his jury questionnaire about his criminal history.</p>”,”elementId”:”11570d6e-b5a4-40c4-8e47-2795bc819fb5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>Prosecutors told Merchan that in researching the juror, they had discovered that someone with the same name was arrested decades ago for tearing down posters supportive of the political right. They also said it appeared his wife had been involved in an anti-corruption probe with the district attorney.</p>”,”elementId”:”2d7f8bef-e282-41a6-8c4a-41e9b147d1cc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<p>The juror appeared in court on Thursday for two lengthy conversations with Merchan and lawyers for both sides. Merchan sealed the conversation, saying it was personal, and then excused the juror.</p>”,”elementId”:”98170c96-0761-4f78-a7ec-bf7b2aedd630″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1713531609000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.00 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1713531741000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.02 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1713531609000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.00 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.00″,”title”:”The 12-person jury was selected Thursday”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Sam Levine”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/12/09/Sam_Levine.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=25e62f18000fc746ffbf14a234227fd1″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/12/09/Sam_Levine_Next_Gen.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b749a487d2c9f5ea6cea0ef137bce319″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 19 Apr 2024 19.53 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 19 Apr 2024 15.00 CEST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Key events

Victoria Bekiempis

There is a pile of charred material from which a small amount of smoke appears to be drifting.

The air has a somewhat charred scent.

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Victoria Bekiempis

Victoria Bekiempis

Across the street from the courthouse, police are gathered examining the area where a man set himself aflame during proceedings.

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A man appears to have set himself on fire outside the Manhattan criminal court where Donald Trump’s criminal trial is underway.

Videos online appeared to show the person being engulfed in flames as authorities including New York police rushed to extinguish the flames.

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A “totally charred human being” is seen outside the Manhattan criminal court, CNN reports.

The outlet reports a stretcher and first responders on scene, in addition to flames and smoke.

More details to come.

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The sixth chosen alternate jurors are currently being sworn in.

Judge Juan Merchan said, “Jurors we’ve now completed jury selection for this case.”

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All six alternate jurors chosen

After days of jury selection, the court has finally chosen all 12 jurors and 6 alternate jurors who will decide the fate of Donald Trump in his historic criminal trial.

The selection of all 18 jurors came not without setbacks, as judge Juan Merchan dismissed two seated jurors earlier this week over identity and credibility concerns.

With the jury bench now full, the trial is expected to move towards opening statements next week.

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Fifth alternate juror chosen

A fifth alternate juror has been chosen.

One more left to go.

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Here are some images coming through the newswires from the Manhattan courthouse:

Judge Juan Merchan presides as prosecutor Susan Hoffinger stands at the podium as former US President Donald Trump sits beside his lawyer Emil Bove in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 19, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Former US president and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sits at the defendant’s table at Manhattan criminal court in New York, U.S., 19 April 2024. Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/Reuters
Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys Emil Bove and Susan Necheles enter Manhattan criminal court in New York, Friday, April 19, 2024. Photograph: Spencer Platt/AP
Media vehicles are parked outside of the Manhattan criminal court building as former US president Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City on April 19, 2024. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
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Fourth alternate juror chosen

A fourth alternate juror has been chosen.

The court now needs to just fill up two more alternate seats.

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Third alternate juror chosen

A third alternate juror has been chosen, just minutes after the confirmation of the second alternate juror.

Three more alternate seats are left to be filled.

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Second alternate juror chosen

Another alternate juror has been chosen.

Four alternate juror seats still to be filled.

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Victoria Bekiempis

Victoria Bekiempis

One prospective alternate, asked about his thoughts on Donald Trump, said: “He’s a person, a politician, a businessman – I think that’s why people are kind of struggling with this question.”

“I really like lower taxes, in this country, I like lower regulation for businesses,” he said, during which Trump seemed to shake his head in agreement.

“I want more jobs through the information technology.” However, he said, “When you think about the Republican party and why we need to bring religion into people’s lives and women’s rights to their own bodies, it’s too much.”

“But, if you take it altogether on president Trump, I will say neutral, leaning positive,” he said.

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Victoria Bekiempis

Victoria Bekiempis

Susan Necheles, one of Trump’s lawyers, said:

It’s important for the government, but it’s very important for president Trump.

Donald Trump appears to be looking at Necheles as she addresses prospective alternates.

“She talked a lot about what she thinks are the facts of the case … that’s her opinion, that’s what she thinks,” Necheles said of prosecutor Susan Hoffinger’s address to jurors.

Is there anyone here who would have a problem putting aside what you heard Ms Hoffinger was saying or Mr Steinglass was saying?

During this process, another prospective alternate juror expressed nervousness. “I’m getting the same anxiety and self-doubt.” She was excused.

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