Former President Donald Trump "probably" can't get a fair trial in Manhattan, a legal expert said this week.
"That's probably true," jury consultant and lawyer Renato Stabile said on CNN of the former president's comments that he wouldn't receive a fair trial in New York due to the city's support for Democrats.
"There are other counties you could have moved this case to. I'm sure Donald Trump would have loved to move the case to Richmond County, to Staten Island, where he's overwhelmingly favored."
"I think overwhelmingly, he is facing a very uphill battle here and I think they're looking to get maybe one or two Republicans on the jury and go for the hung jury," Stabile added.
Newsweek reached out to Trump's spokesperson via email for comment.
The Context
The jury selection process in Trump's Manhattan criminal trial is expected to begin on Monday following an indictment against him brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg for alleged hush money payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Bragg indicted Trump in April 2023, accusing the former president of "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election."
The former president continues to deny any wrongdoing in the case.
What We Know
Shortly after the indictment against him last April, Trump called for the case to be moved out of Manhattan citing possible issues with jurors.
"Very unfair venue, with some areas that voted 1% Republican. This case should be moved to nearby Staten Island—would be a very fair and secure location for the trial," Trump posted on Truth Social at the time.
In the 2020 election, Trump was beaten by U.S. President Joe Biden in Manhattan, with the current president winning 87 percent of the vote to Trump's 12 percent, as well as in the Bronx (83 to 16 percent), Brooklyn (77 to 22 percent) and Queens (72 to 27 percent).
Views:
Trump was previously placed under a gag order in the trial by New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
Merchan, who is overseeing the criminal trial, previously released details of a jury questionnaire for both the prosecution and defense. In his letter, Merchan listed 42 questions that he agreed would be asked of each potential juror following discussions with both the prosecuting and defending legal teams.
"There are no questions asking prospective jurors whom they voted for or intend to vote for, or whom they have made political contributions to," Merchan wrote. "Nor are jurors asked about their specific political party registration, though the answer to that question may easily be gleaned from the response to the other questions."
What's Next
One of Trump's attorneys, Will Scharf, said on Fox News Monday morning that jury selection for the trial could take several weeks.
On Monday, the jury selection process will involve more than 500 New Yorkers filling out questionnaires before 12 are chosen. Six other alternate jurors will also be chosen.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
