Politics
Trump defense challenges jury selection in criminal hush money trial
The defense team for former President Trump is challenging the jury selection in his criminal hush money trial, saying there are concerning issues that need to be addressed.
Trump’s defense submitted a pre-trial letter to the court on Friday laying out two concerns relating to jury selection. The letter came the same day that Judge Juan Merchan dismissed a last-ditch effort by the Trump team to delay the trial, which begins Monday.
The letter states that the defense opposes dismissing potential jurors who “self-identify as being unable to serve,” calling it inadequate. Instead, the defense said they wish to use a hybrid method to differentiate between jurors who claim they cannot be fair and impartial and those who are simply unable to serve.
“That clarity is necessary so that President Trump can present arguments to the First Department, if and when necessary, regarding the number of potential jurors who believed they harbored a disqualifying bias before questioning, as well as the number of additional potential jurors who reveal a disqualifying bias during questioning,” the letter read.
‘I TELL THE TRUTH’: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL TESTIFY AT HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS JUDGE REJECTS LAST MINUTE PLEA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at 40 Wall Street after a pre-trial hearing on March 25, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trump’s criminal trial to begin on April 15, which would make it the first criminal prosecution of a former American president. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 election. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The defense also claims the jury questionnaire benefits the DA’s office by identifying people who affiliate with Trump’s political party.
“Second, while we agree that whether a potential juror ‘likes or does not like’ President Trump is not the central focus of jury selection, it is well established that a potential juror’s ‘negative opinion’ is a form of ‘actual bias’” the letter reads.
Trump’s defense stated that the questionnaire lacks a similarly broad inquiry to identify potential jurors who align with rival political parties that are not necessarily “anti-Trump,” but could still support a disqualifying bias that is worthy of a follow-up inquiry by the defense.
“The Court’s questionnaire asks about connections to any other political entity affiliated with Mr. Trump, which is a fairly direct inquiry regarding Republican Party affiliation. On the other hand, however, Questions 29. E-H ask only about ‘anti-Trump’ groups. People can have political or policy views that lead to disqualifying bias without being ‘anti-Trump.’ Thus, the questionnaire benefits DANY by identifying people who affiliate with President Trump’s political party,” the letter continued.
TRUMP’S NAME ‘INCORRECTLY’ USED IN LA TIMES’ OJ SIMPSON OBITUARY: ‘FREUD LIVES’
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Former president Donald Trump speaks to the media as he attends a pre-trial hearing at Criminal Court on March 25, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images)
“To the extent the Court fails to remedy this asymmetry in the questionnaire, defense counsel must be permitted leeway to probe such affiliations during the jury selection process,” the letter finished.
Trump’s trial is related to accusations he falsified business records to cover up a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election and is scheduled to begin Monday.
“I’m testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth,” Trump told reporters at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago Friday. “And the truth is, that there’s no case.”
Trump called his trial a “scam” and a “witch hunt” when asked if he planned to testify at his upcoming trial.
“What they have done is incredible. It’s election interference, and it’s got to stop. It’s a third-world country. This country has never done it,” the former president said.
Trump’s trial comes as he prepares to challenge President Biden for another White House term later this year. Hunter Biden, the president’s son, faces legal challenges of his own, including federal tax and gun charges.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the Washington Hilton ballroom Saturday night at the start of the White House Correspondents Dinner as shots rang out.
Trump was swiftly whisked away amid the chaos and reported that he and the first lady, and his Cabinet members are safe on Truth Social.
More than 40 years ago, the Washington Hilton was the site of the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981 — a striking historical parallel as Trump was rushed from the same hotel Saturday night after gunfire erupted. It remains unclear if Trump was targeted in the chaos on Saturday evening.
John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at Reagan after he delivered remarks to members of the AFL-CIO. One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest.
Secret Service agents pushed Reagan into a car and was quickly rushed to the George Washington University Hospital. He was famously known for being in good humor when he was about to undergo treatment.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SECRET SERVICE KNEW AIRSPACE PROTECTION WOULD END WITH FORMER PRESIDENT ONSTAGE
Security officials react as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Three other people were also hit, including press secretary James Brady, a police officer and a Secret Service agent.
President Ronald Reagan waves to onlookers moments before an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. on March 30, 1981, outside the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. James Brady is visible third from the left. (The White House/Getty Images)
Brady was shot in the eye and suffered brain damage. He ultimately died in 2014, and law enforcement officials ruled his death a homicide due to its connection to the 1981 shooting.
The hotel has since been dubbed by locals as the “Hinckley Hilton.”
First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump attend the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. This marks President Trump’s first attendance at the annual political press gala while in office. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
Hinckley was acquitted of attempting to assassinate the president as a result of an insanity defense. His attorneys pointed to his narcissistic personality disorder and referenced his obsession with the movie “Taxi Driver” and actress Jodie Foster as the inspiration for the attack.
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President Trump returned to the White House and is set to deliver a statement in the White House Briefing Room.
WASHINGTON — President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner on Saturday evening after an incident led to a security response and reports that gunshots were fired.
A Times reporter attending the dinner was forced to shelter in a restroom. He said he heard about four to five gunshots around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. He said security told him that the person may have had a firearm. It was unclear whether the person was dead or wounded.
Guests at the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner mingle while awaiting updates about a shooting during the event at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday.
(Andrea Castillo / Los Angeles Times)
A presidential motorcade was spotted outside the Washington Hilton hotel at about 8:45 p.m., though Trump’s location is yet unknown.
At about the same time, an ambulance arrived on scene as about 100 event attendees were escorted out of the secured event. The bulk of the attendees are still inside the hotel.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The Tennessee General Assembly wrapped up its annual session this week, with the Republican supermajority signing off on a slate of bills codifying some of the party’s priorities on education and other issues.
Lawmakers expanded the number of school vouchers. They established new state power over the Memphis-area school district, and they put in place additional oversight of the state’s largest airport authorities.
But a central focus of the legislature’s work this year was undocumented immigrants.
Ahead of this year’s legislative session, Republican leaders worked closely with Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, to craft another round of bills that are viewed as a way to enforce President Trump’s immigration crackdown at the state level.
Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, has already signed some of the bills, which will go into effect on July 1. He is widely expected to sign the others.
Here’s what some of those bills aim to do.
Driving tests would have an English language requirement.
Despite pushback from Democrats and several immigrant organizations, tests for a drivers license will now effectively have an English language requirement.
If an applicant does not speak English, the person can still take the initial written exam in another language. But the applicant will be able to receive only a nonrenewable, restricted license that expires after 18 months. At the end of that period, the driver will have to take a written exam in English to obtain a permanent license.
Government employees could face jail time for failing to report undocumented immigrants who receive public benefits.
Under a bill approved this month, local and state employees would be required to report to the state, including the General Assembly, instances in which any undocumented person receives services at public hospitals or government social service agencies.
State and local agencies, including health-related ones, are mandated to maintain copies of documentation verifying citizenship, such as a drivers license or passport. They would also be required to report undocumented immigrants to a centralized immigration authority established last year.
Mr. Miller and other Republicans have scrutinized fraud and waste across the country, and targeted undocumented immigrants as part of that campaign.
Local governments could lose state funds for failing to verify immigration status for employees.
State and local government agencies are already required to verify whether a prospective employee is a U.S. citizen or has authorization to work in the United States. Another bill, recently signed into law by Mr. Lee, adds the threat of withholding funding if a government entity is found to have violated that process.
Failure to comply with a final deportation order could lead to jail time or a fine.
Some states have sought to criminalize certain violations of immigration law, and Tennessee is joining that push. Mr. Lee signed a law that makes it a misdemeanor if an immigrant facing an order of removal fails to leave Tennessee within 90 days, or if an undocumented immigrant has entered the state while facing a deportation order. Similar efforts have encountered legal challenges, including in Iowa under the Biden administration.
Tennessee sheriffs will have to cooperate with federal immigration forces.
Under one bill, all Tennessee sheriffs would have to enter into formal cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
If they did not by Jan. 1, they would risk losing state funding.
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