Trump trial updates: Jury selection finished, man sets himself on fire outside courthouse
This is Yahoo News' succinct update on the criminal and civil cases against former President Donald Trump. Here are the latest developments:
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Five more alternate jurors were selected Friday following questioning from prosecution and defense lawyers, rounding out the 12 jurors and six alternates needed for the case against Trump to proceed on Monday. Across the street from the courthouse, in an area where supporters of the former president had gathered, a man doused himself with flammable liquid and set himself on fire as onlookers watched in horror, the New York Times reported.
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Jury set: On Friday, 22 prospective alternate jurors were questioned about their attitudes regarding the case and Trump. Five of them were selected to serve. As happened all week, many prospective alternate jurors were dismissed after they said they could not be impartial when it came to Trump. Anti-Trump social media posts by some potential jurors were flagged by Trump’s lawyers, and the judge dismissed some of them. Once the jury was finalized, Merchan said that opening arguments in the case would begin Monday morning.
Will Trump testify? Later, the judge held what is called a “Sandoval hearing,” which is meant to inform a defendant of what might happen if they take the witness stand in case, on Friday afternoon. If Trump testifies, prosecutors are hoping to be able to ask him about the verdicts in his recent civil trials. Trump's lawyers are seeking to keep them from doing so. Trump has said that he would like to testify in the case, though it is unclear whether his lawyers will agree with that strategy. Leaving court on Friday, a reporter asked him if he planned to take the witness stand. "Yes," he responded. Merchan said he would issue a ruling on Monday on what cases could be addressed.
A harrowing scene: Outside the courtroom, a grisly scene played out when a man standing in an area where supporters of the former president had been gathering poured flammable liquid on his body and set himself on fire. A bystander used a fire extinguisher to try put out the flames, and a paramedic attended to the man. A manifesto written by the man made clear that he was using the trial to publicize his views on a range of unrelated issues. Prior to setting himself ablaze, the man was seen promoting a website on which a post stated, “I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.”
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