Former president Donald Trump is set to go to trial in his hush money case in Manhattan. The questionnaire for the jury is 42 questions, as well as several sub-questions, such as if a prospective juror is a Democrat or a Republican, or if they’re a member of the Proud Boys, the QAnon movement, or Antifa.
“The Court has closely scrutinized all of the proposed questions submitted by both parties, including those which the parties have agreed to. Guided by settled legal authority… the Court has modified some questions and excluded others. The resulting questionnaire is broad and exhaustive,” New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan wrote.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in the case, which stems from a 2016 payment he’s accused of making to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Potential jurors will be asked if they have any feelings or opinions about how Trump is being treated in the case, spearheaded by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and about the media they read or watch. Potential jurors must share what news sources they subscribe to, what podcasts they listen to, what social media platforms they use, and what talk radio stations they listen to if any.
Merchan rejected a question that asked if the potential juror “likes” Donald Trump. “Such questions are irrelevant because they do not go to the issue of the prospective juror’s qualifications,” Merchan wrote, according to the letter to prosecutors and the defense.
However, potential jurors are asked if they have ever attended a Trump rally, if they or their family and friends have ever volunteered for the Trump campaign, if they receive emails from the Trump campaign organization, and if they follow Donald Trump on social media. On the other end of the spectrum, they are also asked if they have ever attended any anti-Trump rallies or if they follow any anti-Trump organizations.
Merchan recently expanded a gag order to stop the former president from attacking family members of those involved in the case. Merchan had first issued a gag order against the former president in late March, prohibiting him from making or directing others to make public statements regarding counsel in the case.
Jury selection is set to begin on Monday, April 15th.
