Former President Trump was back in a New York courtroom Monday, this time for the start of his first criminal trial in a matter involving a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.
The trial began Monday with debate over what evidence would and would not be allowed in the case. Jury selection followed in the afternoon, in which nearly 100 people arrived in the courtroom where Trump was seated at the defense table. More than half of them were almost immediately excused when they admitted they couldn’t be impartial in the case.
Trump makes history as the first former or current U.S. president to ever face a criminal trial in a case that also made him the first former commander in chief to be criminally indicted.
Jury selection is expected to resume Tuesday.
See below for a recap of the first day of proceedings at the courthouse in Manhattan.
First day of trial concludes
Judge Juan Merchan has adjourned the trial for the day.
A handful of prospective jurors read their answers to the questionnaires, but it’s still very early in the process. The lawyers have not yet questioned any juror.
The Hill will be back with live coverage from the courthouse when the trial resumes Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
— Zach Schonfeld
Judge won’t allow Trump to attend Supreme Court immunity argument
Trump attorney Todd Blanche said Trump wanted to attend next week’s Supreme Court presidential immunity oral argument.
Judge Juan Merchan just rejected the request for Trump to skip the New York trial to be in Washington, D.C., that day to hear the high court’s arguments.
“He’s required to be here, he’s not required to be at the Supreme Court,” Merchan said.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prospective juror: ‘Nobody is above the law’
A man was asked whether he has any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about whether a former president may be criminally charged in state court.
“I feel nobody is above the law, whether it be a sitting president, a former president, or a janitor,” he responded.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prospective juror: ‘I just couldn’t do it’
A prospective juror gave insight into the reason for being dismissed when leaving the Manhattan courtroom where jury selection is currently underway.
“I just couldn’t do it,” the juror said, according to a pool report.
— Ella Lee
Another juror excused
A woman originally from Texas who lives in Harlem was excused after she answered “yes” to the following question:
“Do you have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about former President Donald Trump, or the fact that he is a current candidate for president that would interfere with your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?”
— Zach Schonfeld
Trump following along as jurors answer questionnaire
Trump has been intensely paying attention to jurors’ answers to the questionnaire, holding up a paper copy in front of him and reading along.
He looked over at a woman when she said she was not a native New Yorker and was from Texas.
— Zach Schonfeld
Debate swirls on whether Trump asleep in courtroom
Trump at times has been closing his eyes in the courtroom, leading to intense debate among the press corps as to whether he fell asleep during some of the court proceedings throughout the day.
Trump has spent considerable lengths of time motionless and leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, also appearing to nod off.
— Zach Schonfeld
Jurors who can’t be ‘fair and impartial’ to Trump excused
More than half of prospective jurors in the first group of 96 New Yorkers were excused from the jury pool after they answered affirmatively that they could not be “fair and impartial” when it comes to Trump, according to a pool report by reporters in the room.
At least 50 of the first slate of potential jurors were excused for that reason. The rest of the jurors are expected to fill out a 42-question survey probing issues that will help Trump’s legal team and state prosecutors narrow down the bunch to just 12 jurors and six alternates.
Nine more prospective jurors were let go after signaling they could not serve for any other reason. Those reasons were not disclosed.
More than two dozen excused jurors were white women, according to the pool.
Now only around 34 of the original 96 prospective jurors from the initial panel remain.
— Ella Lee
Nearly 100 prospective jurors in courtroom
Nearly 100 New Yorkers have filled the Manhattan courtroom where Trump’s hush money trial is now underway, occupying every available seat in the courtroom gallery and jury box.
As Judge Juan Merchan details the basics of the case and being a juror, the 96 prospective jurors are sitting attentively in a courtroom with Trump, according to a pool report.
A male juror in the jury box studied the prosecuting team and two female jurors spoke to each other, one gesturing toward Trump. Several jurors craned their necks to get a peek at the former president.
The gallery rows in the wood-paneled courtroom are lined with more than a dozen court officers.
— Ella Lee
Jury selection officially begins
Jury selection is now officially underway. Judge Juan Merchan kicked things off by introducing Trump and the lawyers on both sides.
Trump stood up and turned to face the jurors behind him with a tight-lipped smirk when being introduced, but he kept his hands at his side and made no gestures.
Once inside, some jurors stretched their neck to get a look at Trump. One woman giggled and put her hand over her mouth, looking at the person seated next to her, according to a pool report.
Some were seated next to Trump aides Jason Miller and Margo Martin, who are in the back of the courtroom and have been on their cell phones.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prospective jurors filling courtroom
The first panel of 96 prospective jurors are entering the courtroom.
Court officials cut off the video feed to the overflow room to prevent the audience from seeing their faces as they walk in.
— Zach Schonfeld
First prospective jurors sworn in
The first panel of 96 prospective jurors have entered the courtroom and were sworn in.
Court officials temporarily cut off the video feed to the overflow room to prevent the audience from seeing their faces as they walked in, but the feed has since resumed.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prospective jurors going through security
Prospective jurors have begun going through security, yet another unique aspect of serving on the panel for the first criminal trial of a former president. Two metal detectors are stationed on the 15th floor, where the trial is taking place.
Meanwhile, Trump has been chatting with his lawyer, Todd Blanche. Trump has been quite animated as compared to the morning, making a series of large hand gestures.
— Zach Schonfeld
First group of potential jurors to head to courtroom
The first group of potential jurors in Trump’s hush money trial will be comprised of 96 New Yorkers.
The individuals, whose names will remain secret to the press and public, are expected to head to the courtroom shortly. Trump’s attorneys and state prosecutors will know their identities.
— Ella Lee
Judge, Trump lawyers get heated over trial exhibits
Things turned heated as Judge Juan Merchan ordered Trump’s lawyers to designate their trial exhibits in the next 24 hours following a complaint from prosecutors.
Merchan said Trump’s team should’ve already done so and took aim at how they spent the final weeks leading up to trial filing an array of motions seeking delays.
“I don’t know how you managed to get all those motions out,” Merchan said.
But Trump attorney Susan Necheles said prosecutors were “making up a rule” and that her team is not obligated to produce the exhibits yet.
— Zach Schonfeld
Judge sets hearing over Trump’s possible gag order violation
Judge Juan Merchan has set a hearing for April 23, when he’ll hear arguments over the prosecution’s request to hold Trump in contempt for making inflammatory Truth Social posts about several witnesses in the case.
The former president’s lawyers have until April 19 to file their written response to the state’s request, which would include a $3,000 fine on Trump for violating the judge’s gag order.
The judge originally set a hearing date for April 24 but changed it later in the day.
— Ella Lee
Trump back in courtroom, proceedings resume
Trump has returned from a lunch break in his hush money trial, and the case proceedings have resumed.
Before the break, prosecutors asked the judge to fine the former president $3,000 for allegedly violating a gag order precluding him from hurling attacks at witnesses.
— Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld
Proceedings break for lunch
The court is now on a lunch break until roughly 1:30 p.m.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prosecutors ask Trump be fined $3K for violating gag order
The Manhattan district attorney’s office sought to fine former President Trump on Monday over his inflammatory social media posts and remarks about his criminal hush money case.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy said the former president in three recent Truth Social posts violated a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan barring him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family.
Conroy asked that Trump be fined $1,000 for each post and be reminded he can be jailed if he continues violating the gag order. The judge has not yet ruled.
— Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld
Swalwell accuses Clay Travis of jury tampering in Trump trial
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) accused conservative media personality Clay Travis of jury tampering in former President Trump’s trial this week in New York.
“If you’re a Trump supporter in New York City who is a part of the jury pool, do everything you can to get seated on the jury and then refuse to convict as a matter of principle, dooming the case via hung jury,” Travis wrote Monday on the social platform X. “It’s the most patriotic thing you could possibly do.”
Travis is a commentator and writer for the sports media website OutKick and appears frequently on Fox News and elsewhere across conservative media.
— Dominick Mastrangelo
500 jurors await start of jury selection
Some 500 New Yorkers are waiting in the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s first criminal trial is underway to be questioned as part of a process that will determine which of them sit on the historic jury.
To sit on the jury, the individuals must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens and Manhattan residents. They must also understand English and hold no felony convictions.
Once jury selection begins, they’ll be asked to fill out a 42-question survey probing issues that will help Trump’s legal team and state prosecutors narrow down the bunch, including whether they’ve attended a rally or campaign in Trump’s support or adhere to the QAnon movement.
Ultimately, the parties will whittle the 500 down to 12 jurors and six alternates.
— Ella Lee
Judge appears eager to get jury selection underway
Judge Juan Merchan is seemingly losing patience with the legal disputes the parties keep bringing up.
Two hours after the judge first took the bench, he still has not begun jury selection. He told prosecutors and the defense to “work it out,” reminding the parties that 500 jurors are sitting in the courthouse waiting.
“I expect you to conduct yourself as the professionals you are,” Merchan said.
— Zach Schonfeld
How Michael Cohen became center of the hush money case
The last time Trump and Michael Cohen publicly came face-to-face, their courtroom encounter during a civil business fraud trial ended with Trump storming out in a huff and Cohen swearing his old client would “ultimately be held accountable” for his actions.
The two men aren’t rid of each other yet.
That’s because Cohen is inextricably tied to Trump’s New York criminal hush money case, currently underway in Manhattan. Cohen is expected to serve as a key witness against the former president, testifying about payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels to conceal her alleged affair with Trump — then a presidential candidate — ahead of the 2016 election.
Read more on their bitter feud here.
— Ella Lee
Judge to allow Trump attacks on Cohen if defense opens door
Judge Juan Merchan will allow prosecutors to admit as evidence Trump’s online attacks against his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, if the defense seeks to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
“The door is open the minute the defense says Michael Cohen is a liar,” Merchan said, noting that prosecutors cannot introduce Trump’s posts in any direct examination, though the topic could arise on redirect or rebuttal.
Defense attorneys have already taken sharp aim at Cohen in court filings, and similar arguments at trial are inevitable. Cohen, who made the hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels at the center of the case, is expected to be a key witness for the state.
— Ella Lee
Proceedings resume after brief break
The judge has retaken the bench after a roughly 20-minute break at around 11:35 a.m.
Trump exited the courtroom during the break but did not speak to the cameras on his way in or out.
When asked by reporters in the hallway how things were going, Trump gave reporters a wave and a thumbs up.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prosecutors suggest Trump violated gag order
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass brought up Trump’s various inflammatory social media posts and statements about the case as prosecutors hope to introduce many of them as evidence.
A few weeks ago, the judge placed Trump under a gag order that limits his public statements about witnesses and other trial participants.
“This effort continues to this very day,” Steinglass said of Trump’s attacks, before previewing prosecutors’ next move.
He added, “And shortly, we will be seeking an order to show cause” for why Trump shouldn’t be held in contempt.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prosecutors can’t bring in accusations of sexual assault against Trump: Judge
Judge Juan Merchan denied prosecutors’ request to tell jurors about several, separate accusations that Trump committed sexual assault.
Trump denies the accusations, and his attorney, Todd Blanche, noted that the allegations had never been proven.
“It was just gossip. Complete hearsay,” Merchan said.
— Zach Schonfeld
Judge again says jurors can’t hear infamous ‘Access Hollywood’ tape
Judge Juan Merchan reiterated his previous ruling that jurors cannot hear the actual audio of the “Access Hollywood” tape, the unearthing of which almost ended Trump’s 2016 campaign.
But the judge said he will allow prosecutors to tell jurors what Trump said and introduce an email chain between his campaign aides discussing their response.
“To play the tape itself is just so prejudicial. To see Mr. Trump depicted, the words coming out of his mouth, facial expressions, hand gestures,” Merchan said.
In the tape, which was filmed in 2005, Trump is heard describing grabbing women sexually without their permission.
Merchan also rejected the district attorney’s request to introduce a portion of Trump’s deposition conducted as part of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against the former president.
In the clip, Trump had discussed the “Access Hollywood” tape.
— Zach Schonfeld
Trump sits stone-faced in courtroom
Trump has been sitting stone-faced in the courtroom as prosecutors discuss his alleged affairs and read aloud portions of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced during the 2016 campaign.
The former president has occasionally leaned forward in his chair and shaken his head.
— Zach Schonfeld
Judge allows evidence about ex-Playboy model
Judge Juan Merchan will allow prosecutors to introduce evidence that Trump believed ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal’s story of an alleged affair would damage his campaign and that he played a role in securing rights to it.
“It’s a side trial we can’t do anything about,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche argued against prosecutors’ request, describing the evidence as “salacious” and having to do with a “completely different situation.”
The judge declined to permit evidence that Trump’s wife, Melania, was pregnant at the time.
“At this moment, I think the prejudicial value definitely exceeds any probative value,” Merchan said.
— Ella Lee