The prosecution and defense in former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial agree that he's unique.
He wants to be world's most powerful again. He was famous to most Americans due to his media skills, particularly social media. Gallup found only a third of them like him, but most have strong visceral reactions to him.
"We may be in an alternate universe, because President Trump is known to everybody," his lawyer Todd Blanche said Tuesday, the second trial day.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass added, “Everyone and their mother has an opinion about this case and what the right outcome should be.”
The court and its officers have a dilemma: There may not be 12 eligible jurors in New York or America who don't know what they think of Trump.
No lawyer has had to ask prospective jurors if they could put aside their personal sentiments about a president, current or former, to determine his guilt. Blanche and Steinglass did that by early afternoon Tuesday.
One volunteer was removed: "I wish I could serve for New York and one of our great presidents, but my job prevents that. I cannot take six weeks off."
Find jurors agreeable to both parties was achievable. After Tuesday's session, seven were seated. Merchan said six additional regular jurors and "about six" alternate jurors were available. That dozen and the six reserves will have to apply the law to the facts and ignore Trump.
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