Judge Juan Merchan, overseeing former President Donald Trump’s hush money case in Manhattan, excused a juror on Thursday after she expressed concerns about her anonymity. CNN reported that she felt exposed as her identity seemed partially compromised due to information being shared with her by friends, colleagues, and family.
Merchan emphasized the importance of an anonymous jury to the court, expressing regret over losing a potentially valuable juror due to media-related pressures. The juror herself admitted to feeling afraid and intimidated by the exposure, leading to her dismissal.
In response to concerns over privacy, Judge Merchan decided to redact certain details from the court records, specifically answers to questions about jurors’ employers to avoid further identification risks. He also instructed the media present not to report on these specific details.
CNN noted that the questions related to jurors’ current and previous employers, indicating a need to protect their identities.
Another potential juror, Kara McGee, described her experience of being in close proximity to Trump during the jury selection process as surreal. In an interview with MSNBC’s Vaughn Hillyard, McGee shared her initial reaction to seeing Trump in person, noting the oddity of seeing someone so frequently portrayed in the media sitting just feet away.
McGee acknowledged making eye contact with Trump during her questioning, adding an element of realness to the experience. She described feeling a heightened sense of responsibility, realizing that her decisions could significantly impact another person’s life.
Additionally, McGee revealed her personal disapproval of Trump, particularly criticizing his management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which she felt endangered her immunocompromised roommate.
The jury selection process, which began Monday, is part of a trial expected to last between six to eight weeks, with the potential to extend up to two weeks just for selecting the jury.
