Note: This is a developing story, and the information below may be out of date. For more information, the Hi-Tide recommends the Washington Post or the New York Times.

For the first time in the history of the U.S., an ex-president—Donald John Trump—is on criminal trial. As the arduous process to select an 18-person jury of his Manhattan peers (twelve jurors and six alternates, seven of whom have been selected so far*) who can serve in an unbiased fashion against the polarizing public figure begins, Trump has fulminated against the judge, Juan Merchan, and attacked the validity of the case, saying to a gaggle of reporters: “This is a sham trial, and the judge should recuse himself.” The charges, which pertain to the $130,000 payment Trump’s erstwhile long-time lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film star Stormy Daniels on behalf of the former president to try and keep the affair she claimed to have with Trump quiet during the presidential election of 2016, alleging that he falsified business records in reimbursing Cohen following his electoral victory. The 34 felony charges, all to which Trump has pleaded “not guilty,” may be the first upon which verdicts will be reached and the only ones so decided prior to the crucial 2024 election rematch between Trump and President Biden. Says Sophomore Cashten Bensafre: “He deserves to be tried.”

In March, Judge Merchan imposed a gag order on Trump to prevent him from publicly speaking about jurors, witnesses, prosecutors, and their families following posts about them on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, which was later expanded under the behest of Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg to include members of their (Merchan and Bragg’s) families given subsequent posts by Trump attacking Merchan’s daughter attempting to undermine the Judge’s credibility. Prosecutors now allege that the previous Commander-in-Chief violated the order on seven occasions, which Merchan is set to hold a hearing about; being found in contempt will either result in a monetary fine or even prison time.

Updates:

*As of Friday, April 19th, all jurors and alternates have been confirmed and sworn in.