Trump juror DROPS OUT: Nurse is dismissed over concerns she can't be impartial after ex-president arrived at court with aide Margo Martin carrying her stilettos in the rain

A juror in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial dramatically dropped out on Thursday saying she could not be impartial. 

The woman, a nurse, was dismissed by the judge after saying she had doubts about her ability to be fair and impartial. 

It came moments after the former president left Trump Tower for the third day of his trial on Thursday in New York.

Aide Margo Martin, who has been among those attending the trial, was spotted carrying her stilettos under an umbrella to protect them from the rain.

The deputy communications chief was part of the convoy of cars that followed Trump's SUV.

Trump may face the wrath of the judge after a social media post last night that could potentially violate a gag order. 

The juror who dropped out had been among seven people so far selected from a pool of hundreds to sit in deliberation on Trump.

Judge Juan Merchan told the court the juror had ‘conveyed after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial’.

The woman was then brought to court and asked by Judge Merchan to explain herself. 

The woman said: 'Yesterday alone, I had friends, colleagues, and family push things to my phone, questioning my identity as a juror.

'I don’t believe at this point I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influence not affect my decision making in the courtroom.'

Judge Merchan said: ‘I’m sorry you went through that’ and excused her.

Meanwhile, Trump could face a showdown with Judge Merchan over a social media post.

Judge Merchan has ordered Trump not to attack potential jurors in the case.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday night Trump quoted Fox News host Jesse Watters.

Watters was quoted as saying: 'They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.'

Some legal analsts suggested that could breach the order.

The order prohibits Trump from 'making or directing others to make public statements about any prospective juror or any juror.'

CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said the post 'was 'clearly barred by the gag order in this case.'

He added: 'Criminal defendants have different and lesser rights than ordinary citizens. They are not allowed to interfere in the trial process, especially when there is a gag order that specifically addresses attempts to intimidate jurors. It is just not permissible.' 

So far, seven jurors have been picked to sit in deliberation.

They include an oncology nurse, a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English teacher and two lawyers.

Judge Merchan has said he anticipates opening statements in the landmark case to be given as early as next week.

The jury selection process has moved more quickly than expected and Trump has complained that Judge Merchan, is "rushing" the trial.

The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump's lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty.

He could face up to four years in prison if convicted, though it's not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars.