Northeast
Trump hush money trial: Meet the jurors who will hear Bragg's case against the 2024 presidential candidate
Twelve jurors have been selected and sworn in to serve on the jury for former President Donald Trump’s historic and unprecedented first criminal trial.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges are related to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
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Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. He has blasted the trial as pure politics, a “political persecution” and maintains his innocence. The former president is expected to testify during his trial.
A court sketch depicts the second day of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. (Christine Cornell)
By the end of jury selection on Thursday, the third day of jury selection, 12 jurors had been selected and sworn in. The jury pool so far includes four men and three women, all living in New York City. Their professions included work in law, finance, technology and more.
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“We have our jury,” Judge Juan Merchan said when the 12th juror was picked Thursday afternoon. “Let’s pick our alternates.”
Merchan dismissed the remaining prospective jurors and asked that they return to court Friday so that alternate jurors could be selected.
Former President Donald Trump awaits the start of proceedings on the second day of jury selection at Manhattan criminal court in New York on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool)
Here is a look at each of the jurors so far.
Juror #1 and the foreperson
Juror #1 lives in New York City. He has no children and enjoys doing anything outdoorsy. He gets his news from The New York Times, Daily Mail, Fox News and MSNBC.
When asked by Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche if he was aware Trump is charged in other cases and jurisdictions, and how that affects him, the man said, “I don’t have an opinion.”
Juror #2
Juror #2 is a man who said he follows Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen on “X,” formerly known as Twitter, as well as other “right wing” accounts, including former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway.
The reason, he said, he follows those figures was so he could be plugged in to “anything that might move the markets I might need to know about.”
When asked if he would unfollow Cohen, as he may be a witness in the trial, the man said: “Absolutely.”
The man also said he has “not seen any evidence” relating to the case.
“I will try to keep an open mind,” he said.
Responding to questions from Trump lawyer Susan Necheles about his feelings about the former president, the man said that Trump has done some good for the country.
“It’s ambivalent,” he said. “It goes both ways.”
The first person who was labeled juror #2 was excused Thursday morning after saying she could not be a fair juror.
Juror #3
Juror #3 is a young to middle-aged man who lives in Manhattan. The man said he grew up in Oregon and has been an attorney for five years practicing corporate law. The man said he enjoys hiking and running, and gets his news from The New York Times and Google.
Juror #4
Juror #4 is originally from California, but has lived in New York City for 15 years. The man said he has been a security engineer for 25 years and holds a high school diploma, with some college education.
The man is married with three children. His wife is a teacher.
During his spare time, he enjoys being with his children, woodworking and metal working.
The man said he has served on a jury before — on both a grand jury and a jury in a criminal trial.
The man said he gets his news from “a smattering” of news sources. As for social media, he said he doesn’t use it.
Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan criminal court in New York City on Monday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The man said he has a relative who works in finance and brothers-in-law that work as lawyers.
The man said he has no feelings about how Trump is being treated in this case.
TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL: JUROR EXCUSED AFTER SAYING SHE DOES NOT THINK SHE CAN BE FAIR
The person who was first labeled as Juror #4 was excused Thursday morning after it was revealed that he had been previously arrested in Westchester, New York, for tearing down right-wing political advertisements.
Juror #5
Juror #5 is a young and a New York native who has been a teacher of English Language Arts for eight years.
The woman was previously a caseworker at a juvenile detention center. She said she has a masters’ degree in education.
“I’m creative at heart,” she said, adding that she enjoys photography.
The woman said that she is not married and does not have children. Her mother was an administrative aide for a police department, and her godfather was a homicide detective.
The woman said she gets her news from Google and TikTok.
She was asked if Trump chose not to testify, whether she would hold that against him.
“I won’t hold that against him,” she said.
Former President Donald Trump appears with his legal team Todd Blanche, left, and Emil Bove ahead of the start of jury selection at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on Monday. (Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Images)
She explained that she has friends who have strong opinions on the former president but said she is not a political person and tries to avoid political conversations.
She did say, however, that she appreciates Trump’s candor.
“President Trump speaks his mind, and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking,” she said.
When jurors were asked if they were aware Trump was charged in other cases than Bragg’s, most jurors were. However, juror #5 raised her hand to indicate that she was learning of additional charges for the first time.
Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan criminal court in New York City on Tuesday. Trump’s first criminal trial got off to a plodding start on Monday, with the proceedings stalling over disagreements about evidence and other last-minute arguments, leaving even the former president looking bored and resting his eyes at times. (Justin Lane/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Juror #6
Juror #6 is a young woman who lives in Manhattan. She described herself as a New Yorker.
The woman is a software engineer and said she likes to dance.
Juror #7
Juror #7 is originally from North Carolina and works as an attorney and civil litigator.
The man said he is married with two children, and his wife works in risk management for a bank. He said he enjoys spending time outdoors and with his family.
The man said he gets his news from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and The Washington Post.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg arrives at Manhattan criminal court in New York on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
When asked if his career as a lawyer would impact his ability to serve fair and impartially, or whether his opinions would get in his way, the man said that he does have “political views as to the Trump presidency” and said there were likely Trump administration policies he disagreed with.
“I don’t know the man and I don’t have any opinions about him personally,” he said.
As for his career as a lawyer, he said he does not have any opinions about Trump’s character.
“I certainly follow the news,” he said. “I’m aware there are other lawsuits out there. But I’m not sure that I know anyone’s character.”
Juror #8
Juror #8 is a man who lives on the Upper East Side, and has since 1980. The man is originally from Lebanon. He said he is retired, bu had worked for a major financial firm as a wealth manager. He said he currently consults and holds a Masters of Business Administration.
The man said he is married with two children–a son and a daughter. He said he enjoys skiing, yoga, meditation, and does not participate in any organizations.
The man said he has served on a jury, but said the case was held before the trial began.
The man said he reads The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, BBC, and said he does not listen to talk radio.
The man said he does not have any friends who are victims of crime. He also said he has many friends in the financial field and said his brother is an attorney.
The man said he can be a fair and impartial juror. He also said he does not have any opinions or beliefs about Trump that would prevent him from being fair or impartial.
Juror #9
Juror #9 is a woman who lives in Manhattan. She is originally from New Jersey and works as a speech therapist.
The woman is not married and does not have children. She said she likes to spend time with friends, go to restaurants and go on walks.
The woman said she has never served on a jury before, and does not watch the news or follow current events too closely. The woman said she did, though, have email subscriptions to CNN and The New York Times. She said she follows social media accounts, listens to podcasts and enjoys reality television.
The woman said she does not listen to talk radio.
The woman said she can be fair and impartial. She said she does have opinions about Trump, but said she believes she can put them aside and be fair and impartial.
Juror #10
Juror #10 is a man who lives in Manhattan. He was born and raised in Ohio and works in commerce for a large company. The man has a college degree.
The man said he is not married and has no children, but lives with another adult who works in accounting.
The man said he enjoys being outdoors and loves animals.
The man said he does not really follow the news, but listens to podcasts on behavioral psychology.
The man said he has no strong opinions on how Trump is being treated in this case.
Juror #11
Juror #11 is a woman who lives in upper Manhattan. The woman is originally from California. She is not married.
Her hobbies include traveling.
The woman said that she doesn’t really follow the news, but does watch late night news.
The woman said that her apartment has been robbed before.
She says she can be fair and impartial.
Juror #12
Juror #12 is a woman living on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. She previously lived in South Carolina and North Carolina.
The woman is a physical therapist for 15 years and holds both a Bachelors and Doctorate degree. She is married and does not have children. Her husband is a coach for a professional sports team.
The woman said she enjoys running, playing tennis, and listening to live music.
The woman said she reads The New York Times, USA Today, and CNN. She said she listens to podcasts related to sports and faith.
She said she has two brother-in-laws and three sister-in-laws who are attorneys, but said none of them practice criminal law.
She said she can be fair and impartial.
Fox News’ Grace Taggart contributed to this report.
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Maine
This Classic New England-Style Cottage in Maine Has 200 Feet of Atlantic Ocean Frontage
A waterfront home with open ocean views on the coast of Maine came to market Tuesday asking $4 million.
Built in 1978, the three-bedroom cottage is at the southern point of Cape Elizabeth, less than 10 miles from downtown Portland. The 1.1-acre property on Sunny Bank Road features 200 feet of south-facing water frontage on the wide open Atlantic.
It is bordered by a rocky sea wall that’s about 28 feet high, according to listing agent Sam Michaud Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
“The views are like a Monet painting,” he said via email. “The water sparkles and the waves are endless.”
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The 3,364-square-foot home was built in classic New England style, with shingle siding, a single sloped roofline and large windows—complemented by white-washed walls, exposed-beam ceilings and wide-plank flooring on the interiors.
The main common area features cathedral ceilings with a step-down between the living and dining room, and a partial wall divides the dining room from the kitchen. There is also a wood-paneled family room off the kitchen, a gym and a covered porch.
The sellers purchased the property in 2010 for $1.562 million, according to property records accessed through PropertyShark. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I have received quite a few inquiries since hitting the market two days ago,” Michaud said. “Buyers understand that this is a golden opportunity to own over an acre with 200 feet of bold oceanfront in Cape Elizabeth.”
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There are currently just seven three-bedroom homes available for sale in Cape Elizabeth and fewer than five waterfront properties, according to Sotheby’s and Zillow data. It is also the most expensive listing in the town, with another waterfront property on a tiny lot just south of Portland coming in a close second, according to Zillow.
Michaud sold the former Cape Elizabeth home of Bette Davis this past summer for $13.4 million, the priciest sale on the cape in at least a decade—and even those views can’t compare. They’re “just magical,” he said.
Massachusetts
Body part found in Shirley, Massachusetts pond, police suspect foul play
A body part was found in a pond in Shirley, Massachusetts and investigators said foul play is suspected.
It was discovered around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as a group of people were walking along Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.
Police said the group noticed something suspicious in the water of Phoenix Pond. The Middlesex District Attorney confirmed that the item was a body part, but would not elaborate.
Police shut down the road and divers could be seen exploring the pond late Wednesday. Authorities were back at the scene Thursday morning.
No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
Phoenix Pond connects to the Catacoonamug Brook, which flows into the Nashua River. It’s also connected to Lake Shirley.
Shirley, Massachusetts is about 44 miles northwest of Boston and around 13 miles from the New Hampshire border.
New Hampshire
NH Senate Votes To Hike Turnpike Tolls for Out-of-State Vehicles
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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