“It’s extraordinarily important to President Trump that we know that we’re going to get a fair shake,” the attorney said.
The jurors are anonymous except to Trump and lawyers for both sides.
Several prospective jurors said they did not have strong opinions about Trump, or said their opinions were not relevant to the case.
“If we were sitting in a bar, I’d be happy to tell you,” said one jury candidate, a man who works at a bookstore and enjoys going to Broadway shows. “But, in this room, what I feel about President Trump is not important.”
Merchan ultimately dismissed the juror.
In questioning jurors earlier on Tuesday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said the case was not a referendum on Trump’s presidency.
“This case is really not about whether you like Donald Trump,” Steinglass said. “This case is about the rule of law and whether Donald Trump broke it.”
