OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
One of the 12 jurors selected to sit for former President Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial in Manhattan may offer some hope for acquittal of the dozens of felony charges filed against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
According to CNN, “Juror No. 2” is an investment banker who is married with no children, but who apparently follows the former president on his Truth Social Platform and has read Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.”
The juror also follows Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal “fixer” attorney, who has since turned state’s witness against his former boss after serving jail time when he pleaded guilty to five counts of willful tax evasion; one count of making false statements to a bank; one count of causing an unlawful campaign contribution; and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution.
Woah. Could either be really good or really bad. pic.twitter.com/JLaAVSZ6hG
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) April 18, 2024
All 12 jurors and one alternate were chosen on Thursday. The court convenes again on Friday to hopefully name an additional five alternates, which, if that occurs, means opening arguments will begin on Monday.
Earlier this week, Bragg filed a document listing previous “misconducts and criminal acts” as part of his trial plan in the criminal hush-money case related to payments made through Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
“On Wednesday, prosecutors gave a glimpse into their trial plan as they filed their ‘Sandoval’ notice, which discloses all ‘misconduct and criminal acts of the defendant’ which they intend to use at trial to impeach Trump’s credibility,” Newsweek reported.
In April of last year, Trump entered a not guilty plea to a 34-count indictment that accused him of fabricating business records concerning a hush money payment to Daniels that his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to her in an attempt to improve his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election.
The court documents state that “people will intend to inquire” about the listed criminal acts and misconducts by Trump if he chooses to testify.
The civil fraud case of New York Attorney General Letitia James and the civil defamation case of E. Jean Carroll are on the list.
Judge Arthur Engoron granted James’ lawsuit against Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and the Trump Organization a favorable ruling in February. The allegations were that the former president falsified financial statements given to banks and insurers to close deals and obtain loans, inflating the value of his properties and his net worth by billions of dollars.
According to Engoron, the former president is required to pay $454 million, which consists of approximately $100 million in interest, along with $355 million in fines.
Following a ruling in January that ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to Carroll for harming her reputation following her allegations of sexual assault in a department store dressing room during the mid-1990s, the February ruling followed that one.
Carroll received $5 million from Trump for defamation and sexual abuse last year, according to a different jury. Trump promised to appeal the jury’s $83.3 million decision, but he has denied any wrongdoing and claimed those cases were politically motivated.
Following CNN legal analyst Jeremy Saland’s statement that prosecutors “absolutely” would like to see the former president take the stand, the Sandoval notice was filed.
Last month, Trump said he “would have no problem testifying” in the case. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he explained.
Trump further discussed testifying last week while speaking to reporters, telling NBC News, “Yeah, I would testify, absolutely.”
“I’m testifying. I tell the truth, I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there is no case,” Trump said.
The trial itself is expected to take up to six weeks.
