A juror in Donald Trump’s historic, hush-hush trial withdrew dramatically Thursday, saying she could not be impartial.
The woman, a nurse, was fired by the judge after she said she doubted his ability to be fair and impartial.
It came moments after the former president left Trump Tower for the third day of his trial Thursday in New York.
Aide Margo Martin, who was among those present at the trial, was seen carrying her stilettos under an umbrella to protect them from the rain.
The deputy communications chief was part of the convoy of cars that followed Trump’s SUV.
Trump could face the judge’s wrath after a social media post last night that could potentially violate a gag order.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to enter Manhattan Criminal Court to attend his trial for allegedly concealing secret money payments related to extramarital affairs, in New York on April 18, 2024.
Margo Martin, Donald Trump’s aide, leaves Trump Tower to go to court. Martin was not traveling in the same SUV as Trump but was part of the convoy of cars following him. She was wearing her shoes when she entered the vehicle
Margo Martin, deputy communications chief, boards a convoy vehicle
The juror who dropped out was among seven people selected so far from a group of hundreds to serve in deliberations on Trump.
Judge Juan Merchan told the court the juror had “expressed, after sleeping on it all night, her concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial.”
The woman was then brought into court and Judge Merchan asked her to explain.
She told the court she “definitely had my concerns now” and that her friends and family had “pushed things” to her.
The woman said: “I don’t believe, at this point, that I can be fair and impartial and not let outside influence affect my decision-making in the courtroom.”
Judge Merchan said: “I’m sorry you went through that” and excused her.
Meanwhile, Trump could face a showdown with Judge Merchan over a social media post.
Judge Merchan ordered Trump not to attack potential jurors in the case.
In an article on Truth Social Wednesday evening, Trump quoted Fox News host Jesse Watters.
Watters was quoted as saying, “They’re catching undercover liberal activists lying to the judge in order to get on the Trump jury.”
Some legal analysts have suggested this could violate the order.
The order prohibits Trump from “making or directing others to make any public statements about any prospective juror or juror.”
Trump heads to court for third day of jury selection
Judge Juan M. Merchan Issues Silencing Order Against Trump
Trump aide Natalie Harp on her way to court for third day of jury selection
CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said the post “was clearly prohibited by the silence order in this case.”
He added: “Criminal defendants have different and lesser rights than ordinary citizens. They are not allowed to interfere in the proceedings, especially when there is a silence order that specifically targets attempts to intimidate jurors. This is simply not allowed.
So far, seven jurors have been chosen to deliberate.
They include an oncology nurse, a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English professor and two lawyers.
Judge Merchan said he anticipated opening statements in this landmark case would be delivered as early as next week.
The jury selection process has moved faster than expected and Trump has complained that Judge Merchan is “rushing” the trial.
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to enter Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Stormy Daniels appears at an event on May 23, 2018, in West Hollywood, California
The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump’s lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her allegations of a sexual relationship with Trump from being exposed. are made public.
Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.
Trump has denied having a sexual relationship with Daniels and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal fees.
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty.
He faces up to four years in prison if convicted, although it is unclear whether the judge would choose to put him behind bars.
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