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

Banker Gary Farro testified in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York.

Last Updated: April 26, 2024, 5:13 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Apr 22, 5:51 am

What to know about the hush money case

Apr 19, 2024, 1:20 PM EDT

New alternates include audio pro, fintech employee

Alternate Juror No. 3 is an audio professional who offered to assist Judge Merchan with a microphone that kept cutting out. He expressed his opinion that "Donald Trump is a man, just like I am."

He said growth results from correcting their prior wrongful actions. "Every man should respond to their wrongdoings if found," he said. "If there is evidence found against a man, there should be consequences."

Alternate Juror No. 4 is a woman who said "I have no really strong opinions about President Trump."

She is married with two boys that she likes to take to Knicks games and Rubik's Cube speed competitions. She has been a contract specialist for 20 years, currently employed at a publicly traded fintech company.

The woman who participated in the Women's March and said Trump enabled homophobic and racist comments was excused. The judge called it "the safer course."

Apr 19, 2024, 1:11 PM EDT

4 alternate jurors now seated, 2 to go

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.

Apr 19, 2024, 12:56 PM EDT

Prospective alternates voice varied opinions of Trump

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."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal  in New York, April 19, 2024.
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal in New York, April 19, 2024.
Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP

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."

Apr 19, 2024, 12:39 PM EDT

'That's an issue for me at the ballot box,' woman says

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.

Former President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Supreme Court on the fourth day of his trial in New York, April 19, 2024.
Curtis Means/Pool via Reuters

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.

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