Donald Trump hush money case: First criminal trial of an ex-president officially begins as first group of jurors are brought into the court

Donald Trump stood and gave a group of 96 potential jurors a smirk as the selection process finally began in the hush money trial. 

The first batch of Manhattan residents were brought into the court and sworn in to see if they would be picked for the first panel in history that will decide the fate of a former president in a criminal trial.

Those chosen will ultimately decide if the 77-year-old is guilty or not guilty of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels over their alleged affair. 

More than 500 potential jurors are in the court waiting to see if they are needed for the trial that could last up to six weeks.

They will have to answer 42 questions - including what news networks they watch and whether they have supported QAnon - if they want to qualify. 

Several of the potential jurors seated appeared to frequently stare at Trump while the judge introduced the case. 

Many prospective panelists who just filed into Merchan’s courtroom and sat in the back rows stretched their necks to get a look at Trump once in their seats.

One woman in the second row from the back on the right giggled and put her hand over her mouth, looking at the person seated next to her with raised eyebrows.

There was no discernable reaction from potential jurors when Merchan said the name of the case.

They were sworn in at 2:34 p.m.

Judge Merchan told them that the case was ‘the People of the State of New York versus Donald J Trump’.

‘The defendant is Mr Donald Trump, who is seated to my right,’ Judge Merchan said before introducing the lawyers for each side.

Addressing the jury, Judge Juan Merchan gave them a summary of the case.

He said: ‘The allegations are, in substance, that Donald Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.

‘Specifically, it is alleged that Donald Trump made or caused false business records to hide the true nature of payments made to (his former personal lawyer) Michael Cohen, by characterizing them as payment for legal services rendered pursuant to a retainer agreement.

‘The People allege that in fact, the payments were intended to reimburse Michael Cohen for money he paid to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, in the weeks before the presidential election to prevent her from publicly revealing details about a past sexual encounter with Donald Trump'.

Judge Merchan added that Trump had pleaded not guilty.

After lunch Trump appeared noticeably more alert and engaged than before the break.

He was speaking animatedly with his lawyer Todd Blanche and pointing with his fingers while he spoke.

It is not clear if the former President had read reports about him dozing off before lunch.

A visibly irate Judge Merchan gave Trump’s lawyers 24 hours to identify all their exhibits or they will be unable to use them in the trial

The judge had asked Trump’s team to do this in February but they have failed to do so, the court heard.

Blanche tried to argue it was not possible to do so given the Trump legal team would be in court all day.

But Judge Merchan shot back that they had filed three motions last Sunday within 30 minutes of each other.

His voice rising, the judge said: ‘Right now you’re in violation of the order’ and set a deadline of 24 hours for them to comply.

Trump’s lawyers and the prosecution will only get one paper list of the first set of 96 potential juror’s names, the judge said.

‘That copy is not to be photographed, duplicated in any way or any form,’ Judge Merchan said.

Once the 96 had been dealt with, that list was to be returned to the judge.