## Jury Selection Begins in Trump's New York Trial
The first criminal trial against former President Donald Trump in New York has begun jury selection. Twelve jurors and one alternate have been chosen so far, with five more alternates still needed. Opening arguments could begin as early as Monday.
The trial focuses on accusations that Trump falsified business records to conceal a sex scandal before the 2016 election. This is the first criminal trial against a former president in U.S. history. Trump, who is also campaigning for the presidency in November, denies wrongdoing and claims the case is a politically motivated "witch hunt."
Choosing jurors has been challenging, especially considering the defendant's high-profile status. Many potential jurors were excused because they expressed concerns about their ability to be impartial. One woman said, "He's selfish and self-serving. He's not my cup of tea."
The process suffered an early setback when two jurors were dismissed on Thursday. One was dismissed due to questions about his truthfulness, while the other said she could no longer be fair to Trump after receiving messages from friends and family.
Judge Juan Merchan blamed the media for the dismissal of the female juror, claiming that excessive reporting of juror details had influenced her decision. He ordered news outlets to refrain from disclosing identifying information about jurors.
Meanwhile, prosecutors claim Trump has violated the judge's April 1 gag order by making statements about the case on social media. Trump's lawyers argue that he is simply defending himself from online attacks. A hearing will be held on Tuesday to determine if Trump should be fined for contempt.