Donald Trump has plenty of candidates to send him into the shadows for a while. From political rivals to former employees who would never put themselves under his orders again, ordinary citizens or businessmen badly off in their business dealings with the tycoon. He also has no shortage of followers who, at the very least, would storm the Capitol for him. In a society as polarized as the American one, it is difficult to find a person who recognizes himself as impartial when it comes to judging the former president, so finding eighteen is a real odyssey. That is what emerges these days from the process for the selection of the jury – twelve members and six substitutes – before which Trump will sit in New York for hiding the payment of more than $100,000 to the porn actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for the silence from her.
The questionnaire to select the people – among the half a thousand citizens residing in Manhattan called at random – who will decide whether Trump is innocent or guilty seems almost like an exam. Long ones, too. Candidates must answer up to 42 questions. On the first day – Monday – almost a hundred candidates to be part of the jury took the test and more than half answered 'yes' to the last question: Is there any reason, whether bias or anything else, that prevent you from being fair and impartial if you are selected for this case?
But all kinds of topics are touched on in the questionnaire. Do you listen to or watch podcasts? Are you a native New Yorker? Are you married? What is your academic background? What do you do for a living? What do you like to do in your free time? With these questions, which serve the same purpose for a Tinder date as for a job interview, the 'exam' begins before jumping to more delicate matters, such as knowing if the candidate to sit on the jury bench has had any employment relationship. with the FBI or the Government itself. Question number 13 goes even further into the matter: Have you, a family member or a close friend ever been a victim of a crime? And continue with the thorny issues. Do you take any medication that prevents you from concentrating or paying attention during the procedure or during deliberations? Do you practice a religion that would prevent you from sitting around saying bad words on any day or night of the week?
Rallies and books
The New York court that has been trying the former president since Monday does not want anyone with the slightest sympathy for the Republican candidate to be included on the jury who could buy into the theory that he is suffering political persecution. Have you ever attended a Donald Trump rally or campaign event? Do you currently follow Donald Trump on social media or has he done so in the past? The defendant in this case has written several books. Have you read (or listened to audio of) one or more? Do you have any feelings or opinions about how Mr. Trump is being treated in this case? The selected citizens must clarify that they are not declared enemies of the tycoon, who is an expert in presenting himself as the victim.
The jury members must also make an effort at discretion. Can you give us your absolute assurance that you will refrain from discussing this case with anyone in any way and from watching, reading or listening to any account of this case during the pendency of the trial? The identity of those chosen will not transcend either, and each one will be known by a number. Getting to 18 seems like it's not going to be easy.
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