More than 50 of the first 96 potential jurors in the blockbuster Donald Trump hush money trial were excused by the judge on Monday afternoon after admitting they could not be impartial.
As the first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. President got underway the first batch of Manhattan residents were brought into the courtroom and sworn in.
The court then established who would qualified for the panel that will decide the fate of the presumptive Republican nominee for president.
As they walked in the potential jurors strained to catch a glimpse of the high-profile defendant and one woman appeared to giggle.
There were indications that finding 12 impartial jurors could take up to two weeks.
Those chosen will ultimately vote to decide if the 77-year-old defendant is guilty or not guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records.
Prosecutors allege records were falsified to hide a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her discussing an alleged affair before the 2016 election.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison but, if found guilty, Trump would be a first-time offender and could face a fine or probation.
More than 500 potential jurors arrived at court to see if they are needed for the trial that could last up to six weeks.
They are faced with 42 questions – including what news networks they watch and whether they have supported QAnon – if they want to qualify.
Several of the potential jurors appeared to frequently stare at Trump while the judge introduced the case and read out a list of witnesses who could testify, including his wife Melania Trump.
