Full jury seated in Trump's hush-money criminal trial in New York

A full jury of 12 people and six alternates was seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

The panel, which includes software engineers, an English teacher and multiple lawyers, took final shape after lawyers spent days quizzing dozens of potential jurors on whether they can impartially judge the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

The judge said lawyers will present opening statements Monday morning before prosecutors begin laying out their case alleging a scheme to cover up negative stories Trump feared would hurt his 2016 presidential campaign.

Just after the jury was seated, emergency crews responded to a park outside the Manhattan courthouse, where a person had set themselves on fire. People rushed over with a fire extinguisher and worked to bat out the flames before the person was taken away on a stretcher. The person's condition was not immediately known.

The trial will place Trump in a Manhattan courtroom for weeks, forcing him to juggle his dual role as criminal defendant and political candidate against the backdrop of his hotly contested race against President Joe Biden. It will feature salacious and unflattering testimony his opponent will no doubt seize on to try to paint him as unfit to return as commander in chief.

“The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me, and I have a gag order,” Trump said.

(AP)

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