The judge is striking potential juror No. 2 for cause.
Trump's team found social media posts from the juror referencing Trump that say, “Get him out” and “Lock him up."
Day 2 of Trump New York hush money trial
By CNN's Lauren del Valle and Jeremy Herb in court
Updated 11:24 a.m. ET, April 18, 2024
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Judge strikes potential juror for cause
Potential juror on social posts about Trump: I can set all feelings aside
The prospective juror whose Facebook posts are in question said he can "set all the prior feelings aside" about the former president.
Potential juror doesn't remember posting about Trump on social media
The potential juror being questioned now was a middle-aged man who lives in Midtown and works as a creative director.
The juror confirmed the social media account in question is his.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked whether he has recollection of this post. The man said he does not but it's on his account so it's his post.
Judge says Trump attorney's question to jury pool was problematic
Before the other juror is brought in, Judge Juan Merchan says that the question that the former president's attorney Todd Blanche posed to the jurors — "What is your opinion of Donald Trump?" — was problematic.
"That's another way of saying do you like or don’t like Donald Trump," Merchan says, noting that people could base that on the way he dresses, the way he speaks or his job as president.
Judge's admonishment of Trump gesture to juror is just a warning, for now
Judge Juan Merchan issued a stern warning to Donald Trump for his reaction to a juror in the courtroom. But it was just that, for now — a warning — not to do it again.
The judge said earlier in court that Trump was gesturing and audibly speaking in the direction of the potential juror who was being questioned.
"I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom," he said after the juror left the court.
Trump's legal team says they found "lock him up" posts from potential juror
Former President Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche is now challenging another potential juror.
Trump's team found social media posts from the juror referencing Trump that say, “Get him out” and “Lock him up."
Judge denies defense's challenge for cause for first potential juror
Judge Juan Merchan denied the defense team's challenge for cause.
"Juror No. 1 is denied, who's your next?" he told Trump lawyer Todd Blanche.
Blanche responded: "Juror No. 2."
What this means: Trump's attorneys are seeking to have some potential jurors dismissed for cause — which, if successful, means they would not have to use one of their 10 strikes.
Merchan says juror provided "reasonable explanations" for posts
Judge Juan Merchan says he does not want people on the jury who lie or mislead, and that's why he brought the potential juror in to have her explain the Facebook posts. He says she "provided what I believe were reasonable explanations for both."
"That juror looked me right in the eye and when she said she could be very impartial, she meant it," Merchan says, adding that the juror is credible.
Prosecution argues posting "video of other people celebrating" doesn't mean potential juror can't be fair
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is fighting the defense's motion to dismiss the potential juror on cause.
"I fail to see how posting a video of other people celebrating, and even indicating a favorable view of other people celebrating, implicates this juror's" ability to be fair, Steinglass argued.
