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Fact Check: Trump falsely claims judge won't let him attend son’s high school graduation next month
From CNN’sMarshallCohen
After leaving court on Monday, former President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that Judge Juan Merchan would prevent him from attending his son’s high school graduation in May.
“It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son,” Trump said, before lamenting “that I can’t go to my son’s graduation.”
Trump’s son Eric Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric by tweeting, “Judge Merchan is truly heartless in not letting a father attend his son’s graduation.”
Facts First:The judge hasn’t ruled yet on Trump’s request to be excused from court so he can attend Barron Trump’s high school graduation.
Criminal defendants like Donald Trump are typically required to attend their case proceedings in person. Trump’s lawyers asked Merchan on Monday about whether their client could be excused for some events, including the graduation and the upcoming arguments in front of the US Supreme Court in one of Trump’s other criminal cases.
While Merchan didn’t let Trump attend next week's Supreme Court hearing – because Trump has to be in New York for the trial — he said it was too early to rule on the graduation.
Trump appeared to fall asleep during some moments of trial, New York Times' Maggie Haberman says
Former President Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during the first day of the hush money trial, according to a New York Times reporter who was at the courthouse.
In one moment, his jaw kept falling onto his chest and he didn’t appear to pay attention to a note his lawyer passed him, New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman said.
“He appeared to beasleep. Repeatedly his head would fall down,” she told CNN.
The moment happened before jury selection began on Monday afternoon. According to the pool reporters inside the courtroom, Trump was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and his eyes appeared to be closed for several minutes at a time.
Trump's team asked whether he could attend SCOTUS arguments next week. The judge said see you "here next week"
Judge Juan Merchan told Donald Trump's team he will see them next week when asked about the possibility of changing the schedule so the former president could attend Supreme Court arguments April 25.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche noted the former president "very much" wants to attend the arguments over whetherthe former president may claim immunityin special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion case.
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said there's no obligation that the defendant has to be present at the Supreme Court arguments, opposing the request.
"Your client is a criminal defendant," Merchan told Blanche. "He's required to be here" and not at the Supreme Court.
Merchan said he will see him "here next week."
Trump rails against hush money case after first day of trial
Former President Donald Trump railed against the criminal case against him in New York after the first day of jury selection on Monday. He called it a “scam trial” and a “political witch-hunt” in remarks outside the courtroom.
Trump was charged last year with34 felony countsof falsifying business recordsfor his alleged role in ahush-money schemebefore the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, Trump complained that he would not be able to attend his son's graduation from high school because of the trial.
The judge said he will not yet rule on Trump's request to skip the trial on May 17 for him to attend his son’s high school graduation. “It really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial,” Judge Juan Merchan said.
The post was updated with more comments from the former president.
What happened during the first day of the historic hush money trial against Donald Trump
From CNN staff
Lawyers on both sides are working to select a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump.
On Monday, 96 prospective jurors were brought into Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom to be vetted. More than half were excused after saying they couldn't be fair and impartial, and at least nine others were excused after raising their hand when Merchan asked whether they could not serve for any other reason.
Before the selection process began, Merchan made several rulings on evidence that can be included in the trial.
How the process will work:
- Potential jurors will complete a questionnaire created by the judge with input from the attorneys for Trump and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
- If the potential jurors make it into the jury box, they’ll read their answers out loud. The attorneys and the judge can then ask follow-up questions to further vet them for possible conflicts or biases.
- Eighteen potential jurors were called into the jury box Monday. Merchan questioned nine people before court ended for the day. One person was dismissed after she said she had firmly held beliefs about Trump. Merchan excused another juror who said his child was getting married on June 8.
- The judge can dismiss prospective jurors for cause. Prosecutors and Trump’s defense team will also get 10 peremptory strikes they can use to remove a juror from the pool, no questions asked.
- The identities of the jurors will remain anonymous but will be known to the attorneys on both sides.
Why the jury is such an important factor in this case: Choosing a jury will be no easy task when the defendant is a former president who has been at the center of US politics for nearly 10 years now and a figure in the New York tabloids going back decades. Trump’s lawyers have already argued that he can’t get a fair jury in New York County because the jury pool is biased against him. The petition to move the trial was denied.
Here’s what else to know:
- Trump in court: Trump stood and turned around when he was introduced as the defendant, giving the prospective jurors a tight-lipped smirk, according to pool reports. Many prospective panelists who filed into the courtroom stretched their necks and lifted their heads to get a look at Trump once in their seats.According to the pool reporters inside the courtroom, Trump was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and his eyes appeared to be closed for several minutes at a time.
- A hearing next week: Merchan said he will hold a hearing on April 23 on the district attorney's motion to sanction Trump for his social media posts that prosecutors allege violate the gag order against him.
- Swatting incident: A couple of dozen emails were generated indicating that bombs had been placed in the area around the Manhattan courthouse, a law enforcement source told CNN.The threats were unfounded and ruled to be a "swatting" incident, the source said.
Judge tells jurors not to converse among themselves — or others —about the case
Judge Juan Merchan again read the jury instructions, and told potential jurors that he will will read it numerous times throughout the process.
He told the potential jurors not to converse among themselves or others anything related to the case.
First day of court ends with 9 potential jurors questioned
Judge Juan Merchan adjourned court for the day after nine potential jurors had gone through the questionnaire.
He said he wants to start at 9:30 a.m. ET sharp tomorrow morning and encouraged everyone to be on time.
Biden shakes his head when asked whether he’s watching coverage of Trump’s criminal trial
From CNN's Donald Judd
President Joe Biden shook his head when asked Monday whether he watched any coverage of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial.
The question came as Biden held a bilateral meeting at the White House with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Earlier Monday, WhiteHousepress secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the historic event in New York, citing the ongoing nature of the trial andTrump’s position as the presumptive GOP nominee for president.
In contrast, Jean-Pierre said, Biden would focus instead on his responsibilities as president.
Judge scolds defense team for returning late from break
From pool reports
Before jurors were brought back into the courtroom following a short afternoon break, Judge Juan Merchan gently admonished the defense team for returning late, according to pool reports.
"Counsel, it's important that we keep the breaks to the allotted time, so we can keep moving," Merchan said.
Merchan said court will break for the day around 4:30 p.m. ET.
