Day 4 of Trump New York hush money trial

Donald Trump is hunched forward with his arms on the table as his lawyer debates his argument, with Judge Juan Merchan beside him.

The judge is holding a Sandoval hearing, a routine hearing that will address Donald Trump’s criminal history and assess how much prosecutors can ask if a defendant testifies.

The court is also reviewing a defense motion.

Trump attorney Emil Bove began by saying that the defense objects to each case that prosecutors want to raise.

In a social media post during a break in the trial on Friday afternoon, former President Donald Trump repeated a familiar claim that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against him, “has let Violent Crime in New York flourish at levels never seen before.”

Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. Manhattan, like New York City as a whole, is nowhere close to an unprecedented level of violent crime. In reality, violent crime in the borough and the city has plummeted since the early 1990s.

For example, in 1990, when New York City set its all-time murder record, Manhattan recorded 503 murders. In 2023, it recorded 73 murders — a decline of about 85%. Similarly, Manhattan recorded 252 rapes in 2023, down about 63% from the 689 in 1990.

Emil Bove, a member of Donald Trump’s legal team, says that Trump’s attorneys do not object to redacting personal identifying information from Michael Cohen’s cell phones, which includes Cohen’s contacts. But they object to the sealing of the entire exhibits in a public trial.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger responds that redacting the documents would be “extremely, extremely burdensome,” saying it would require combing through thousands and thousands of pages and thousands of Cohen’s phone contacts.

Judge Juan Merchan then says he’s not going to require prosecutors to redact 39,000 contacts, when they only seek to introduce what’s relevant. He says that prosecutors only want to use what’s relevant, and if Trump’s lawyers see something that’s sealed that they want to use, he will look then.

The court is back in session after taking a lunch break.

The court is discussing the prosecution’s motion for the sealing of exhibits related to Michael Cohen’s cell phones.

The judge is expected to also hold a Sandoval hearing this afternoon, a routine hearing that will address Donald Trump’s criminal history and assess how much prosecutors can ask if a defendant testifies.

Jury selection ended before the lunch break. A panel of 12 jurors and six alternates were seated Friday afternoon. Jury selection began on Monday.

A view of pamphlets dropped by a person that was covered in flames outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway in New York on April 19.

New York City police said the man who lit himself on fire outside the courthouse where Donald Trump’s trial is taking place threw pamphlets that “seemed to be propaganda based,” according to the chief of detectives.

Joseph Kenny described them as “almost a conspiracy-theory type of pamphlet.”

The papers contained “information in regards to Ponzi schemes and the fact that our local education institutes are fronts for the mob,” Kenny said. “So a little bit of conspiracy theory going on there.”

He said police would go through the man’s social media accounts during their investigation. Kenny said he was not aware that the man had any criminal history in New York and was not known to detectives before the incident.

Chief Jeffrey Maddrey of the New York Police Department said Friday afternoon that the department is “of course” going to review security protocols after a man set himself on fire outside the courtroom where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place.

Maddrey clarified that the man did not breach security protocols as the park was open to the public.

Tarik Sheppard, the deputy commissioner of public information for the department, said that while he cannot share conversations had with Secret Service, “everyone involved in the trial inside is aware of the incident that took place outside today.”

Law enforcement ratcheted up security for the trial with a sophisticated and multilayered plan, officials previously told CNN.

Emergency personnel respond to a report of a person covered in flames outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway on Friday in New York.

The man who lit himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump’s criminal trial is unfolding is in critical condition, police said on Friday.

New York Police Department Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey said the man is in Cornell Burn Unit.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said police have not determined if the incident was related to Trump’s trial. He said the man did post about the incident on social media and that his internet presence will be part of the ongoing investigation.

Maddrey said the man walked into the center of Collect Pond Park, which is directly across from the courthouse where Trump is on trial. He opened his backpack and took out pamphlets that he scattered in the park.

The man then fell into a police barrier and onto the ground, he said. People and officers in the area tried to put the fire out using their coats and fire extinguishers, Maddrey said.

This post has been updated with additional information from officials.

Prosecutors are in the courtroom. Former President Donald Trump also walked in with his attorneys and took his seat.

Trump is now chatting with his attorney Todd Blanche, who is seated to his left, before the judge enters.

A police officer uses a fire extinguisher as emergency personnel respond to a report of a person covered in flames outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway in New York on Friday.

Kaz Daughtry, the New York Police Department deputy commissioner of operations, said on X there are no public safety threats following what police are referring to as an “incident” outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial. 

A man lit himself on fire outside of the courthouse, two law enforcement sources confirmed to CNN earlier Friday.

After throwing pamphlets into the air, the man poured gasoline from multiple containers over the top of his head, another senior law enforcement officer told CNN. 

The man was carrying two large signs — one advertising a Substack and one that said “Trump is with Biden and they’re about to fascist coup us” — photos provided by two law enforcement officials show. The one advertising the Substack had a driver’s license that officials believe belonged to the man taped to the corner. 

The NYPD is expected to brief news media outside the courthouse shortly.

Donald Trump faces a Sandoval hearing this afternoon, opening the door for the former president to testify at his criminal trial as his defense team gauges the risk of letting him take the stand.

A Sandoval hearing involves an examination of the defendant’s criminal history. It is required under New York law when a defendant plans to testify in their own trial and is meant as an indicator of whether it would be a good idea for them to take the stand.

During the proceedings, both sides will discuss what prosecutors would be allowed to ask Trump on cross-examination. It’s not yet clear whether the former president will testify.

The hearing is set to begin at 3:15 p.m. ET.

A New York appeals court is hearing arguments Friday afternoon over Donald Trump’s motion to change venue, according to two sources.

Last week, Trump had asked the appeals court to stop the trial so they could argue over a change of venue saying he couldn’t get a fair trial in Manhattan.

An appellate judge denied the motion. The full panel is hearing Trump’s challenge over a change of venue.

The hearing comes an hour after jury selection was completed in the criminal trial. A panel of 12 jurors and six alternates were seated Friday afternoon. Jury selection began on Monday.

Jury consultant Renato Stabile weighed in on the makeup of the jury after the selection process wrapped Friday afternoon.

“For sure alternates are going come into play because in a case like this, you’re going to lose some of the regular jurors,” he told CNN chief legal analyst Laura Coates.

Now that jury selection is complete, Stabile says lawyers on both sides will be monitoring the jurors’ social media posts to make sure they don’t comment publicly on the case.

The jury also includes at least two lawyers, a “very unusual” move that Stabile says is a big gamble.

Having people with legal expertise on the jury could pose a risk for either side.

It could negatively affect the prosecution by diverting clarifying questions that would otherwise go to the judge, Coates said. But lawyers on the jury could be beneficial to the defense, as they might be able to raise questions about the burden of proof that might otherwise go unasked. 

Although Donald Trump has been accused by the Manhattan district attorney’s office of violating his gag order at least 10 times, the consequences for the former president might be minimal, CNN legal analyst Elie Honig told Kate Bolduan on Friday morning.

In a hearing Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan will have to decide between fining Trump up to $1,000 per violation and imprisoning him for up to 30 days.

Honig noted that it’s a problem for trial management and courtroom order and could eventually become an issue for Trump as well.

Earlier today, Trump said outside the courtroom that the gag order “has to come off,” telling reporters that he “should be allowed to speak.”

Remember: A gag order was issued by Merchan in late March to stop Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff or the family members of prosecutors and court staff.

Emergency personnel respond to a report of a person covered in flames outside the courthouse where former US President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway, in New York, on April 19.

A man lit himself on fire outside the courthouse where the Trump trial is underway, New York City Police Department officials said.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey said the man walked into the center of Collect Pond Park, which is directly across from the courthouse. He opened his backpack and took out pamphlets that he scattered in the park before setting himself on fire.

A CNN team on the ground observed one of the flyers. It said “NYU is a mob front” and had various allegations of wrongdoings against the school.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said police have not determined if the incident was related to Trump’s trial. He said the man did post about the incident on social media and that his internet presence will be part of the ongoing investigation.

At least one person used a fire extinguisher to try to put out the blaze, and an EMT rushed up to the man and tried to render aid, according to CNN’s Laura Coates, who narrated the scene unfolding in front of her outside the courthouse.

This post has been updated with details from New York City Police Department officials.

The five remaining alternate jurors were sworn in Friday, meaning the full jury panel has now been seated in the hush money trial against Donald Trump.

There are 12 jurors and six alternates who will hear the case against the former president.

Opening statements are expected to start Monday.

Here’s a recap:

The judge said there will be a Sandoval hearing after the lunch break around 3:15 p.m. ET. That routine hearing will address Trump’s criminal history and assess how much prosecutors can ask if a defendant testifies.

Former President Donald Trump is standing in the gallery. A Secret Service agent is speaking to him.

He glanced over at the press pool as he walked out.

The court is adjourned for lunch.

The judge is expected to hold a Sandoval hearing at 3:15 p.m. ET. This is a common preliminary proceeding that will be used to review Donald Trump’s criminal history and assess how much prosecutors can ask if he testifies.

Judge Juan Merchan tells the jurors, “I expect we’re going to begin the trial on Monday.”

Merchan is giving the jurors instructions not to discuss the case with others or research it.

“There are 18 jurors in total,” and we cannot start until all are present each day, Merchan says.

Jurors are being called up to be sworn in now.

The last five alternates sworn in include four women and one man.

A sixth alternate juror has been selected. That means the full panel — 12 jurors and six alternates — has now been seated.

“We have our full panel,” the judge said.

One more alternate juror has been added to the jury. We’re up to five alternate jurors now.

Alternate No. 5 said she is married, works for a clothing company and gets her news from Google.

The potential alternate juror was dismissed after a review of his social accounts.

When referencing a quote in which he called Donald Trump “egomaniacal,” he said, “it’s not too far off base” from what he felt at the time.

He also said the top image of the Facebook account is his, but then suggests the posts in question are not his.

Prosecutors withdrew their opposition to the Trump team’s challenge for cause.

Donald Trump’s side is challenging another potential alternate juror over social media posts.

As Trump attorney Susan Necheles reads the posts — including one describing Trump’s “egomaniacal, sociopathic incompetence” and another saying that Trump is “the devil” — the former president does not appear to react as he’s sitting back in his chair.

The juror is brought into the room to confirm whether this is his social media account.

Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the potential juror Donald Trump’s lawyers had challenged, saying it’s out of an abundance of caution.

Trump’s team pointed to photos the potential juror had taken at a 2017 rally when seeking the challenge.

Explaining his decision to dismiss the juror, Merchan noted that while the juror described the rally as a women’s rally, he also had written a caption that it was a “massive anti-Trump rally.”

The judge is asking the prospective juror Donald Trump’s team is challenging about his social media posts from 2016 that were flagged by Trump’s side, asking if he remembers the posts.

“I don’t remember. I guess they’re mine,” the prospective juror says.

The judge showed him pictures from a rally he attended in 2017 where he took pictures of signs in the crowd. One had the caption, “my sentiments exactly.” The judge asked him whether he agrees with the signs.

Trump attorney Susan Necheles asked him if he considered the rally an “anti-Trump rally,” and the prospective juror said he thought of it as a “women’s rights rally.” Necheles noted he used the phrase “anti-Trump rally” in his posts.

We are now in another challenge for cause from Donald Trump’s side, reviewing social media posts for a prospective alternate juror.

The juror has been brought into the room.

We’re now up to four alternate jurors.

Alternate juror No. 4 said she’s “not a big news person” but looks at The New York Times, Reuters and the BBC. She does have social media profiles but doesn’t post or use them.

A third alternate juror has been selected. The juror is a native New Yorker.

Judge Juan Merchan granted a Trump team challenge for cause, after she spoke about the former president’s rhetoric.

She said she believes Trump’s followers act “almost like they’re devout to him.”

Judge Juan Merchan asked whether she can give an assurance that if she is a juror, she would be able to separate those issues from Trump as a defendant in this case.

“I can do that,” she said. “Just on the basis I think these are issues that are outside this courtroom.”

Trump attorney Susan Necheles said they are still challenging her because she said that she felt Trump discriminated against her personally. “When someone comes into this case with that kind of baggage,” Necheles argued, it’s a problem.

Merchan said that while he agreed the prospective juror was credible in being able to put aside her views, he said he granted the challenge to ensure “finality” of the case.

Several potential jurors became emotional during Friday’s voir dire proceedings as they were questioned about their ability to serve on Donald Trump’s trial.

Two people cited anxiety and unexpected stress from the process. They were invited to the bench to speak privately with Judge Juan Merchan before being dismissed.

One female juror who was excused for technical reasons became emotional when talking about her past during the questionnaire portion. She began by telling the courtroom she thought she would be disqualified because she was previously convicted of a crime in another state. Trump watched intently as she shared her story with the parties at the bench.

Although she was not dismissed for being a convicted felon, she didn’t have required paperwork so she was disqualified.

A third prospective juror also became emotional when answering whether he had experience in the criminal justice system.

“It was a good experience, but it was a tough one and the system was helpful,” he said, adding that he had been accused of a crime. He is still part of the potential jury pool going through the voir dire process.

One of the people in the jury pool has been selected as the second alternate juror.

She is originally from Spain, is not currently working and is married with adult children. Earlier, she said she does not follow the news and does not have any social media accounts. She likes to travel and said she’s “very fortunate in life” not to have health issues.

“I don’t have strong opinions about former President Donald Trump that would interfere” with the ability to be a fair and impartial juror, she said.

Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench. He is starting with challenges, going seat-by-seat.

The defense attorneys and prosecutors are now huddling to discuss strikes.

Each side has two peremptory strikes per alternate and those strikes do not carry over. These strikes allow both sides to remove a potential alternate without cause.

Six jurors were excused before the strikes.

Susan Necheles, a member of Donald Trump’s legal team, has finished questioning the potential alternate jurors.

They have left the room.

One potential juror, asked about his opinion on Donald Trump, said that there has been “so much thrown around” in recent years.

“I simply disregard it as much as I can,” he said.

Another male potential juror gave a very lengthy answer about whether he likes Donald Trump, saying he has five or six answers depending on whether it’s as a person, politician or businessman.

Trump leaned in to watch the potential juror closely as he went on to explain his reasoning.

The man noted that Trump is a family man and a businessman and successful. He said that when looking at Trump as a politician, there’s also the Republican Party — and “that’s where things get a little bit tricky.”

He said he likes lower taxes in this country but raises his concern that the Republican Party brings religion into people’s rights and women’s rights to their own bodies.

Trump turned his head and seemed to smirk in response to that answer.

One prospective juror who is a native New Yorker said Donald Trump, in his view, is “just a normal person.”

“We don’t really get starstruck or really care about anything like that,” the man said. “He’s just a normal person like me. That’s the way I see it.”

Trump attorney Susan Necheles asked potential jurors if they are bothered by allegations that the former president has been unfaithful in his marriage.

Trump leaned over and whispered to his lawyer Todd Blanche at the defense table as Necheles asked the line of questioning.

Trump is watching the alternates’ answers very closely as they share their opinions of him. He turned toward the jury box as they responded.

One of the prospective jurors said she has a balanced opinion of Donald Trump.

“I actually have a favorable opinions about some of the policies he enacted — tax policy and foreign policies,” she said.

Defense attorney Susan Necheles asked the juror if she would feel pressure from friends who don’t like Trump. “I have never felt pressure,” she responded.

Donald Trump’s attorney Susan Necheles spoke with a female juror who attended the women’s march, asking her what she thinks of Trump and if she has strong opinions about him.

The prospective juror added that “his rhetoric at times enables people to feel as if they have permission to discriminate or act on their negative impulses.”

She said she did not hold Trump responsible for the way his base responds to his rhetoric, saying it’s an issue for the “ballot box” and not necessarily in the courtroom.

She also said she’s embarrassed that she doesn’t know his policies. “Every time I’ve tried to listen to one of his rallies,” she said, “it feels like I’m intruding on a personal conversation.”

One of the potential jurors being questioned raised her hand and told the court that as she sits and listens to this line of questioning, she’s feeling “anxiety and self-doubt.”

She approached the bench to privately discuss the issue with the parties and was then dismissed. She quickly exited the courtroom.

Donald Trump’s attorney Susan Necheles is pushing back on prosecutor Susan Hoffinger’s statements about Michael Cohen.

She asked the potential jurors whether any would have a problem considering the “fact people change their stories and that might indicate that they’re lying?”

Trump, who is facing the jury box, leaned forward and whispered to his attorney Todd Blanche as Judge Juan Merchan interrupted Necheles to tell the jurors that they’ll ultimately make their own determination about the credibility of witnesses who will testify at trial.

Cohen is expected to testify in the trial. Here’s a reminder of his role in the case.

It’s the defense’s turn to question the potential jurors, and Donald Trump attorney Susan Necheles is up.

Necheles, who also questioned prospective jurors yesterday, once again focused her line of questions on biases toward Trump.

“You all bring biases, and you particularly bring biases about someone who is as publicly and outspoken as President Trump. There’s nobody that doesn’t know him in this room,” she said.

Trump is watching Necheles speaks to the jury pool.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is now going through the jurors one-by-one to ask each would be able to return a guilty verdict if the evidence proves it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Donald Trump is looking over at the jury box as they respond.

Hoffinger is also asking the potential jurors if they will return a verdict of not guilty if the evidence doesn’t prove the case — the question that Susan Necheles, Trump’s lawyer, asked prospective jurors yesterday.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked several jurors if they can promise not to pre-judge the witnesses in the trial.

“No pre-judgements,” said one prospective juror.

Another juror who is a lawyer also said she’d approach the case with no pre-judgments.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is now going through Michael Cohen’s background, asking the potential jurors whether they will keep an open mind to his testimony. She asked one juror if the fact that Cohen pleaded guilty wouldn’t stop the person from listening.

“That’s correct, I’ll keep listening,” the juror says.

Cohen is expected to testify in the trial. Here’s a reminder of his role in the case:

One potential alternate juror began crying when handed the microphone.

She said, “(I) don’t want you to feel I’ve wasted anyone time. This is so much more stressful than I thought.”

Judge Juan Merchan invited her to come up to the bench to talk privately, after which she was excused.

There have been five excused alternate jurors today so far.

As the prosecution questions the potential alternate jurors, Donald Trump is leaning back in his chair.

At one point, he closes his eyes.

He’s also looking over from time to time to the jurors as they respond.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is now questioning the remaining potential alternate jurors.

Hoffinger tells these prospective jurors, as the district attorney’s office has said to kick off voir dire each round:

“It’s only about whether the evidence proves he’s guilty” beyond a reasonable doubt with the crimes he’s been charged, she says.

Hoffinger is asking individual jurors whether they will base their decision in this case on the facts and the law. “In criminal cases, there’s a burden of proof and I don’t see why it should be any different in this case,” says one male juror.

Judge Juan Merchan brought the potential juror who revealed a past conviction back into the courtroom and said he spoke with the Commissioner of Jurors.

He said being a convicted felon does not automatically disqualify her from serving as a juror, but because she doesn’t have certain paperwork with her today, she has been excused.

He also commended her for telling her story in the courtroom: “What you just did is something that most people in this courtroom would not be able to do, so thank you.” As she was leaving she said, “Good luck.”

Attorneys have selected a jury of 12 New Yorkers — but now they need to seat as many as six alternates before opening statements can begin. One alternate was picked on Thursday.

Both sides know jury selection is one of the most important parts of the trial. These are the people who will hear the evidence and determine the historic outcome. Alternates ensure the trial can continue to the end if a seated juror cannot proceed.

New York criminal procedure law outlines several cases in which an alternate would replace a juror, and that juror would be dismissed, during a trial.

That includes:

The state law also says alternates must have the same qualifications and go through the same examination as other jurors. They will be questioned and chosen by the judge and the lawyers in this case after all 12 jurors are seated.

Alternates will listen to the entire trial, but won’t participate in deliberations.

A possible alternate juror was allowed to remain through the questionnaire process after revealing she had been convicted of a crime in another state.

Before the questionnaire process started, she told the judge she was convicted of a crime in another state and would be disqualified.

At one point, her voice cracked. Trump watched intently as she shared her story.

Judge Juan Merchan had her approach the bench so they could discuss it privately. He ultimately allowed her stay and she was not disqualified.

After the prospective jurors left the courtroom for the break, Merchan addressed the room, saying everyone inside “heard from a very brave woman who shared very personal things about her life. I know that wasn’t easy to do in a room full of strangers. I want to encourage the press, please be kind. Please be kind to this person.”

Remember: On Thursday, after a paneled juror expressed concerns in court about her ability to serve, the judge addressed the press in court, telling them “there’s a reason this is an anonymous jury” and to “refrain from writing about anything that has to do with physical descriptions.”

“We just lost what probably would’ve been a very good juror,” Merchan said. “The first thing she said was she was afraid and intimidating by the press.”

Court is now in a 10-minute break.

Former US President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 19. 

Donald Trump is spending his Friday morning seated at the defense table next to his lawyers in a chilly Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.

The former president has been seen reviewing documents and flipping through papers containing charts, photos or graphics. He’s whispered and passed notes between his lawyers, and at some points, he has remained hunched over with his elbows on the desk.

On several occasions, Trump has looked over at the jury box while potential alternate jurors answer questions about their ability to be impartial. Other times, the former president has stayed facing straight ahead as his defense team and prosecutors turn in their chairs to look at jurors.

On the way into court this morning, he took the opportunity to voice his displeasure with the proceedings. He stopped to tell reporters he should be on the campaign trail, not sitting in the courthouse for another day.

He also railed against a gag order that restricts him from making statements about witnesses, jurors, prosecutors and court staff, as well as family members of some of the key players. Prosecutors say he has violated that order at least seven more times in recent posts on social media.

Two people in a batch of 22 potential alternates read their answers to the questionnaire. Here’s what they said:

Jury questions are ongoing, and Donald Trump attorney Todd Blanche and the prosecutors have turned around in their chairs to look at the potential jurors.

Trump, meanwhile, is seated facing forward.

More potential alternate jurors described their employment, some family members and what they do in their spare time:

Here’s how a few more potential alternate jurors described their jobs, hobbies and news consumption habits:

The former president talked to his attorney Todd Blanche after the latter juror said he was involved with voter efforts and attended the march.

As questioning of potential alternates continues, another juror has been excused after saying she could not be fair and impartial.

Three potential jurors have been excused so far today, out of a panel of 22.

People in the group of possible alternate jurors continue to answer their questionnaires. Here’s a look at what some of them are saying about how they consume news:

Donald Trump is looking at the papers in front of him and whispering with his attorney Todd Blanche as the potential jurors are going through the questionnaire. Blanche showed him something on a paper in front of him.

As the search for more alternates continues, a group of potential jurors is being questioned in court about their background and beliefs about former President Donald Trump.

When asked if they have any feelings or opinions about how Trump is being treated in this case, some of the potential jurors said they believe he is being treated “fairly.”

Meanwhile another prospective juror, a woman who said she is a lawyer, told the court she may have read Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal” when she was younger, but she can’t be sure. She has multiple degrees: a law degree, master’s degree and bachelor’s degree. She used to be an amateur boxer but gave that up because she got too many black eyes, now her hobbies include watching TV on the couch. She said she browses headlines. Her father is a court officer.

Another prospective juror was excused after saying that “after some introspection,” she does not think she can be impartial.

“I want to be, and I have every intention when I first started, but I think after the questions posed to prospective jurors, in asking those questions to myself, I don’t think I can be impartial,” she says.

Donald Trump is looking over at the jury box while potential jurors answer questions.

One prospective juror is a woman originally from Spain who is not currently working and is married with adult children.

She likes to travel and says she does not follow the news and does not have any social media accounts. She says she’s “very fortunate in life” not to have health issues.

“I don’t have strong opinions about former President Donald Trump that would interfere” with the ability to be a fair and impartial juror, she says.

Donald Trump is sitting, facing straight ahead during this round of jury questions.

At one point, defense attorney Todd Blanche passed Trump a note. Trump then flicked it over to attorney Emil Bove, who put it in the inside the pocket of his suit jacket.

Trump then whispered with those two attorneys.

A prospective juror has been excused this morning after she said she has really bad anxiety and doesn’t think she “can be completely here and fair.”

She told the judge she is concerned that as the trial goes on and the more people know she is part of the jury, “I might not be able to be completely fair and not emotional so that concerns me.”

The 22 prospective jurors have entered the courtroom for questioning.

Judge Juan Merchan thanked them for being on time.

Prosecutors and former President Donald Trump’s attorneys will each get 25 minutes to question the 22 prospective jurors, after the prosecution asked for an extra 5 minutes because there are more than 18 jurors today.

Judge Juan Merchan said they are working on the temperature situation in the courtroom after Donald Trump yesterday quipped about how chilly it is.

“We’re also still working on the temperature in the courtroom,” Merchan said at the start of court today.

The court is in session. A panel of 12 jurors and one alternate have already been chosen. More alternates will be selected today as the judge indicated he wants about six alternates.

Here’s what is expected to happen in court:

Judge Juan Merchan is now inside the courtroom as well.

He says 22 potential jurors are in the building and ready to go.

Former President Donald Trump entered the Manhattan courtroom and is sitting at the defense table.

Trump lawyer Gedalia Stern also entered the room.

The prosecution team is now entering the courtroom for the fourth day of Donald Trump’s criminal trial.

Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial accused the former president of violating a gag order seven more times Thursday and urged the court to find him in contempt. 

Prosecutors filed their argument Thursday in addition to another filing earlier this week, which accused Trump of violating the gag order on three other previous occasions. The documents were submitted to support arguments made orally in court earlier Thursday.

The DA’s office claims Trump continued to violate the gag order in several online posts to his Truth Social account and also in articles posted on Trump’s official campaign website. The posts appear to attack Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, a key witness in the case who is expected to testify. 

In the filing, prosecutor Chris Conroy asks the judge to hold Trump in contempt for violating the gag order and sanction Trump $1,000 for each alleged violation which prohibits him from talking about witnesses in the case, the DA’s office or court staff.

Judge Juan Merchan will decide on the request at a hearing he had already scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23, regarding three other gag order violation allegations that had already been raised by prosecutors.

This isn’t the first time Trump has been scrutinized for his social media posts. He was fined twice for violating a gag order imposed by New York Judge Arthur Engoron in his civil fraud trial.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media before entering the Manhattan courtroom on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump railed against the hush money case and Judge Juan Merchan before entering the Manhattan courtroom for day four of his hush money trial.

“New York is going down as a very corrupt place to do business,” Trump told reporters.

Trump said he should be campaigning in Pennsylvania and other states instead of being in the courtroom.

“I am sitting in a courthouse all day long,” the former president said, as he called the situation “unfair.”

Trump also said the gag order “has to come off,” telling reporters that he “should be allowed to speak.”

Trump has been using the trial and his many legal challenges to boost his campaign and fundraising.

Donald Trump’s motorcade has arrived at the courthouse where the former president is expected to attend a fourth day of jury selection, as lawyers work to pick more alternates after a jury of 12 and one alternate were selected.

Trump usually speaks to media ahead of court proceedings, which typically get underway at 9:30 a.m. ET.

As day three concluded in Donald Trump’s hush money business fraud case, the former president’s attorney Todd Blanche asked the district attorney’s office to share the first three witnesses they plan to call, noting that opening statements and the first witness testimony could begin as soon as Monday.

The district attorney’s office refused. Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass acknowledged that courtesy is often extended. But because Trump has been posting on social media about their witnesses, he said with a shrug, “We’re not telling him who the witnesses are.”

Judge Juan Merchan said he couldn’t fault prosecutors for that. Trump visibly shook his head over the exchange. Blanche then proposed that he would assure the district attorney’s office that Trump would not post about the witnesses if they shared their witness list.

“I don’t think you can make that representation,” Merchan responded.

Blanche continued to protest, but Merchan said he would not order them to turn over their witnesses. “They’re not required to,” he said.

Why this matters: The tactic from the district attorney’s office means that not only will Trump’s team be in the dark about upcoming witnesses, the DA’s office could also choose to keep the identities of witnesses in the wings from the public, too – meaning it’s possible witnesses become a surprise on a daily basis.

A full 12-person jury has been selected for Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial. The panel is comprised of seven men and five women. One alternate, a woman, was also selected.

Here’s what to know about the jurors:

Juror 1 - Foreperson

Juror 2

Juror 3

Juror 4

Keep reading about the other selected jurors.

Former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial is expected to take six to eight weeks from start to finish.

This trial, related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, is the first of four ongoing criminal cases that are expected to head to trial for the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee.

Read more about the stages of the case, and what they mean here.

Former President Donald Trump departs Trump Tower on Friday in New York.

Former President Donald Trump’s motorcade is en route to the Manhattan courthouse where jury selection will continue for his hush money criminal trial. 

Another busy day of court activity is ahead in former President Donald Trump’s historic hush money criminal trial. Catch up on what is expected to unfold in court Friday:

Here’s what happened yesterday in day 3 of the trial.

Former President Donald Trump was first indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush money payment to an adult film star in 2016.

As the trial begins, catch up on the key people in the case below:

Judge Juan Merchan last week released the questionnaire that is being presented to potential jurors in court. It contains multiple questions that could signal political views to the lawyers on both sides.

A panel of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates need to be seated to decide whether to convict Donald Trump. The 12-person jury and one alternate are empaneled so far.

Here’s a look at some of the topics of the questions:

Those in the jury pool will also be asked if they have views on whether a former president can be charged in state court and how Trump is being treated in this case.

The questions are being used for the judge to strike jurors at the outset, if they don’t believe they can render a verdict fairly. They are also being used by lawyers for both sides to strike jurors for any reason — a key part of the jury selection process.

Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York on Thursday, April 18.

A jury of 12 New Yorkers was seated in former President Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial in Manhattan. It comes after two empaneled jurors were dismissed Thursday morning and seven new jurors were chosen by the afternoon.

The jury is made up of seven men and five women.

Now, the court is working to pick up to six alternates. One has been seated so far. Judge Juan Merchan said he is hopeful the process will be finished on Friday.

Here’s what to know to get up to speed:

Seated jurors dismissed:

Lawyers continue their questioning:

Jurors excused for cause:

Trump in court: The former president turned his chair and faced the jury box while lawyers asked questions. He craned his neck to look at the jury pool as several prospective jurors said they disagreed with Trump’s policies or generally disliked him.

Friday: Merchan swore in a new panel of potential jurors who will return on Friday when the selection of alternates will continue.

Gag order: Meanwhile, prosecutors say Trump violated his gag order seven more times, pointing to posts online and calling the situation “ridiculous.” The order was issued to stop Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the family members of prosecutors and court staff in late March. Merchan will have a hearing about the matter next Tuesday.

Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have issued two pre-motion letters in the hush money criminal trial asking Judge Juan Merchan to limit his instructions to the jury to advise they cannot infer from the admissions of others that Trump is guilty.

In one pre-motion letter, Trump’s lawyers on Wednesday requested a limiting instruction over anticipated testimony from Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen regarding his guilty plea for breaking campaign finance laws.

Trump’s lawyers said they would like the judge to instruct the jury by saying, “Mr. Cohen’s guilty plea is not evidence of the defendant’s guilt, and you may not consider it in determining whether the People have proven any of the elements of the charges.”

Cohen’s credibility is expected to be one of the biggest issues for the jury in this case. Trump’s attorneys are planning to try to discredit Cohen, who is a central witness for the prosecution.

The pre-motion letter requests a similar limiting instruction over anticipated testimony from the-then chairman of American Media Inc., David Pecker, who allegedly helped broker the deal with Stormy Daniels. Pecker has been granted immunity in exchange for his testimony and AMI signed a non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors.

A second pre-motion letter Wednesday requested further argument regarding the admissibility of the contents of the so-called Access Hollywood tape. Trump is asking that it either be precluded or that the judge reserve his ruling on its admissibility until after Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal testify.

The full 12-person jury for Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial was seated Thursday, with Judge Juan Merchan overseeing a productive afternoon despite starting the day with two previously empaneled jurors getting dismissed.

Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday:

One alternate was also chosen.