Trump trial: 1st week of testimony ends with testimony from Cohen's former banker

The has seated three more alternate jurors, joining the alternate juror who was seated Thursday. Two more are still needed.

One of the new alternates is a woman originally from Spain who said she has no strong opinions about former President Trump.

The woman said she is not on social media and doesn't watch the news besides skimming through headlines. She said her husband will inform her of the news and that "I don't really go in depth into anything"

The defense was trying to eliminate the young woman who said she heard Trump followers express homophobic and racist things at the boxing gym.

"It's almost like they're devout to him," the woman said of Trump's followers. She is currently being questioned by the judge to assess her views and her ability to be fair and impartial.

Many of the prospective alternates having been speaking freely about their opinions of former President Trump during individual questioning by defense attorney Susan Necheles.

As the former president looked on, one man said there were many categories to Trump: "He's a family man. He's a businessman," the man said. "Clearly he has brought a lot of value to the economy."

But he said his opinion was split over Trump himself.

"I really like lower taxes in this country. I like lower regulation," the man said. "When I think about the Republican Party and why we bring religion and women's rights with their own bodies," that's where he said he splits from Trump, concluding his impression is both "neutral and positive."

Another man conceded he posted online a handful of times about Trump in 2016 and "around the time of the insurrection." Asked for his impression of Trump, he responded, "I'd say it's fairly negative."

"You continue to hold that opinion of a strong dislike?" Necheles asked him. "Based on his rhetoric," the man answered, though he declared himself open-minded.

"What is your opinion?" Necheles asked another prospective alternate, the management consultant who likes the outdoors.

"I think not in agreement with a lot of policies. But it's also something that I've had to take a step back and really talk to a lot of people who are close to me that he has connected with," he responded. "You need to take both sides."

Defense attorney Susan Necheles has been questioning a woman who works for the New York City Law Department and who indicated she participated in the Women's March.

"Do you have strong feelings about former President Trump?" Necheles asked. "Not at the moment," the woman said. "I think my personal biases or opinions about President Trump are focused on his base. I think his rhetoric at times gives people permission to act on their negative impulses."

The woman said she used to box at the gym where she heard homophobic comments or racist comments "that would cite President Trump," but she said "that's an issue for me at the ballot box to deal with, not in the courtroom."

Trump turned in his seat to listen to the woman's responses.

The former president also appeared interested when a different prospective alternate complimented his "family unit," which she said "seems strong."

Earlier, as Necheles was questioning jurors about weighing the credibility of witnesses, a woman interrupted to ask Judge Merchan, "May I approach the bench?"

The woman indicated she was uncomfortable with what Necheles was asking.

"I feel that, through this line of questioning, I'm getting the same feeling of anxiety and self-doubt," the woman said.

The judge excused her after a short conference at the bench.

The prospective alternate who said her father was a friend of Chris Christie's broke down crying during the individual questioning of prospective jurors, telling assistant DA Susan Hoffinger, "This is so much more stressful than I thought it would be."

Hoffinger was quizzing potential alternates about their views of the burden of proof that prosecutors are required to meet.

"I have to be honest, I feel so nervous and anxious right now," the woman said, breaking into tears. "I'm sorry, I thought I could do this. I wouldn't want someone who feels this way to judge my case."

Judge Merchan called her up to the bench for a private conversation and excused her from the pool.

When the questioning resumed, another prospective alternate turned the tables on Hoffinger. "May I ask you a question?" he said. "The burden of proof is subjective to each individual juror?"

Hoffinger explained that "there is only one burden of proof" and that prosecutors are obligated to prove Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The man said he accepted that, and that he would not hold prosecutors to an even higher standard because Trump is a former president.