Trump's hush money trial case: First 7 jurors selected, judge warns against 'intimidation' of jurors

On the second day of formerUnited States president Donald Trump's hush money trial, seven Manhattan residents were selected as jurors.

On Tuesday (April 16), as the jurors were selected, the lawyers on the two sides debated over potential jurors who should be seated and the defendant was warned by the judge to remain quiet.

How the seven jurors were selected?

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When the selection process took place, the jury's anonymous members were only identified by letters and numbers like B400 and B280 and their identities remained hidden.

These seven jurors were four men and three women, who were young as well as middle-aged. These jurors included a salesman, a nurse, two lawyers, an IT consultant, a teacher and a software engineer. They had grown up in Ireland, Oregon and Puerto Rico.

Also Read:One in three US adults think Trump did something illegal as hush money trial gets underway

These jurors spoke about their backgrounds and also shared their opinions regarding Trump before they were chosen for the job.

In her reply on opinion regarding Trump, a nurse said she "[doesn't] really have" an opinion regarding the former president.

The nurse promised that she was "here for my civic duty" and "to listen to the facts." Meanwhile, an IT consultant said, "My family is my hobby," and admitted to finding Trump "fascinating and mysterious."

Meanwhile, the teacher said, "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 did not know that Trump has been facing criminal charges in other cases as well.

Judge Juan Merchan asked the jurors to come back for opening statements on April 22. The court still needs to select at least five more jurors and nearly half a dozen alternates.

Judge warns Trump against intimidation of jurors

The judge warned thelawyers that he would not tolerate intimidation of prospective jurors as he slammed Trump for audibly muttering when one of the possible jurors was being questioned.

Watch:US: Donald Trump calls his Hush Money Trial 'an assault on America'

The judge asked Trump's lawyer to speak to him regarding his behaviour. "I won't tolerate that. I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom," the judge said.

Meanwhile, Trump called the judge"conflicted", and said that "he should not be there."

Trump has been facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. Daniels has claimed that she had a sexual encounter with Trump long before the 2016 election.

(With inputs from agencies)