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

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

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.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


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12 jurors now seated, alternates to come

A full jury of 12 members has now been seated following the addition of five more jurors.

The court is now working to select the six alternate jurors for the case.

"We have our jury," Judge Merchan said.

The 12 jurors then rose, raised their right hands, and were sworn in.


'Oops, that sounds bad,' potential juror says of past social posts

Trump's lawyers sought to strike a potential juror by confronting her with her own social media posts about the former president.

"These posts are vitriolic," defense lawyer Susan Necheles said. "There is no question that this is as strong language as you can get for Donald Trump."

Necheles cited past posts including one where the potential juror said Trump was "anathema" to her beliefs.

"I wouldn't believe Donald Trump if his tongue were notarized," another post allegedly said.

When the potential juror was questioned about the posts, she said that she did not immediately recall making them.

Merchan then asked her to read back some of her posts, including one when she called Trump a "racist, sexist, narcissist."

"Oops, that sounds bad," the potential juror said. "I was in a disturbed frame of mind during that election cycle."

After questioning, the prospective juror apologized to Trump, saying of her posts, "I don't think it's appropriate."

The judge ultimately struck her from consideration for the jury.

"Those were pretty strong views," Judge Marchan said.


2 new jurors seated

Two new jurors have been seated, including a man with an MBA in finance who follows Trump on Truth Social and also follows Michael Cohen.

"I do not have any beliefs that would prevent me from being fair or impartial," the man said while answering attorneys' questions.

"Except for following Michael Cohen or someone like that I don't follow any anti-Trump organizations," he said.

The second new juror is a security engineer who is married with three children, whose wife is a teacher.

The new additions bring the number of jurors selected so far back to seven, after two jurors were excused earlier today.

The court is now looking for eleven more jurors, six of them alternates.


Prospective juror once stayed at defense attorney's house

After individual questioning, Judge Merchan dismissed a prospective juror after prosecutors raised concern about her preexisting knowledge of the case and asked to strike her for cause.

"I'm worried that I know too much," she said under questioning. "I am worried that it is going to seep in in some way."

Trump's lawyers attempted to strike another juror who previously interacted with defense attorney Susan Necheles in a personal setting.

"She stayed at my house overnight," Necheles said.

Merchan declined to strike the potential juror after she said she could follow the court's instructions and be a fair juror.

"One time in 50 years," Merchan said about the overnight stay.

"I know her husband very well," Necheles acknowledged.

"He is not in the jury," Merchan responded.


Trump again assails judge for limited gag order

Former President Trump, addressing reporters after court was adjourned for the day, angrily criticized Judge Merchan and the limited gag order that was the topic of this morning's contempt hearing.

"We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said. "So, they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want, they can lie. But I'm not allowed to say that. I just have to sit back and look at why a conflicted judge has ordered for me to have a gag order. I don't think anybody's ever seen anything like this."

Shuffling through a thick stack of papers, which Trump said were news articles from the past day and a half, the former president continued his criticism.

"So, I put an article on it and then somebody's name is mentioned somewhere deep in the article and I ended up in violation of the gag order," he said. "I think it's a disgrace. It's totally unconstitutional."

Prosecutors this morning asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for what the say are 10 recent violations of the limited gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The judge has yet to issue a ruling.

-Michael Pappano