"He's Just A Dude."

Trump Manhattan Trial day two

I like trying to imagine the people who are being questioned at the for the jury in the Trump Manhattan criminal trial. The reporters who are writing about what’s going on in the courtroom can’t see the jurors, I don’t think. I have a feeling, having been at a Manhattan trial (the E Jean Carroll trial) for jury selection, we were kept in a room on another floor and could not see the jury, only the judge and lawyers on a monitor.

The people who will decide Trump’s fate in this case (and arguably in his bid for re-election) is slowly being determined. It seems to me it’s going faster than I expected. They already have seven jurors and a foreperson has been selected. Originally from Ireland, he works in sales and likes the outdoors. A few other jurors are described as coming off as bland, which the NY Times reporter Jonah Bromich believes is a good way to get on a jury. I am really enjoying the running commentary from the Times’ reporters. They write that there is some laughter in the courtroom from time to time, and these two prospective jurors’ responses to questions were two such times.

When answering a question about whether she knew anyone in the legal field, one prospective juror gave a candid answer. “I dated a lawyer for a while,” she said, before pausing and adding: “It ended fine.” And another, when asked what he does in his spare time, says, “I have no spare time.”

This prospective juror below, Kara McGee, was interviewed by CNN outside the courthouse after she was dismissed. She said she was very close to Trump and he made eye contact with her. This is what she said after the initial shock of seeing him in the courtroom, so close.

Michael Gold of the Times writes just now: “Trump will make a campaign stop after court today at a bodega in Harlem where in 2022 a clerk, Jose Alba, fatally stabbed a man who shoved him. Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, drew criticism for charging the man with second-degree murder, charges that were dropped after weeks of pressure from New York City's mayor and supporters who said Alba was acting in self-defense.”

Typical Trump, trying to prove to his base that NYC is a horrible, dangerous mess and Alvin Bragg is not doing his job as DA. Far from the truth, of course, as DA Bragg is working on many other cases, working hard for the city.

The proceedings are over for another day, back on Thursday. Thanks for being here, see you tomorrow!