A social media post in which Donald Trump said “lock him up” led to a potential juror being removed from the Manhattan trial on Tuesday.
Another who reposted an AI video calling the president “dumb as f***” was also mentioned when another man was told to go home.
The pair were among a series of dismissals in the Manhattan hush-money trial, which ended its second day with as many as seven jurors.
But the judge allowed a woman who made fun of Republicans to go to jail despite a challenge from Trump’s lawyers.
Judge Juan Merchan quickly went through the potential candidates and managed to more than half fill a panel of twelve people.
A social media post in which Donald Trump said ‘lock him up’ led to a potential juror being removed from the Manhattan trial
But a middle-aged white man was told he was no longer needed when Trump’s legal team brought up his past online activities.
Merchan read the message to the court which read in part: ‘Good news!! Trump lost his lawsuit over his illegal travel ban!!!”
“Take him out and lock him up.”
A male juror in seat six was dismissed by Judge Merchan over a video he posted entitled “Dumb as f***” about Trump and other messages.
The pair were among a series of dismissals in the Manhattan hush-money trial, which ended its second day with as many as seven jurors.
Judge Juan Merchan quickly went through the potential candidates and managed to more than half fill a panel of twelve people
One of these was a call to raise money to defeat him in the 2024 elections.
Blanche said the video was a “parody video that mocks President Trump all the time.”
The juror was called in and questioned and said he thought the video was “funny.”
Judge Merchan said he would have no problem with the position, but combined with the juror’s demand here, I find it difficult to appreciate his response.”
The judge rejected another challenge from Trump to kick off a woman sitting in seat 16.
A court sketch shows Trump looking on during the second day of jury selection on Tuesday
Judge Merchan read out copies of the messages and told the court: ‘I apologize for the attempt at humour’
One photo showed young men, Trump and the White House.
The caption read: ‘Trump invites Thai boys to the White House. Asking boys to return to the cave.”
Another photo was captioned: “Republicans expected to pick up 70 prison seats.”
The August 8, 2018 post was a fake news report saying Republicans were ‘running to jail’
Judge Merchan said the posts were “satire” and did not “express a desire to imprison or behead your client.”
“The question is whether they can be fair and impartial: your challenge is rejected,” the judge told Blanche.
“This is an individual who has expressed a desire… for Mr. Trump to be locked up,” Merchan said, adding that if Trump is found guilty, he could face prison time.
Judge attacks Trump for ‘intimidating’ jury after warning he could face jail time for disruptive behavior as juror is dismissed for posting ‘lock him up’ on social media
In a tense moment in court, Judge Juan Merchan told Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche to “talk to him” about his behavior.
It came as Trump already faces jail time for contempt of court if he violates a gag order banning him from attacking people involved in the case.
The judge told Mr Blanche: ‘Your client said something audibly. He gestured and mumbled toward (the juror).”
Raising his voice, the judge continued: ‘I will not tolerate that. I don’t want jurors to be intimidated in this courtroom. Take a moment and talk to your client about it!’
Former US President Donald Trump sits at the defense table during jury selection in his trial on charges that he falsified business records to hide money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan District Court in New York City, USA, April 16, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
Judge Juan Merchan attacked Trump in court
Margo Martin (C), deputy communications chief for former US President Donald Trump, walks into the courtroom during the second day of his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 16, 2024 in New York City
Trump has already been warned that his anger could see him found in contempt of court for violating a silence order imposed by Judge Merchan.
It prohibits him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family. Prosecutors have already asked for a fine.
Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying company records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.
Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump about a decade earlier.
The Republican candidate for president in the November 5 election has pleaded not guilty and denied any meeting took place.
On day two of jury selection, Trump and his lawyers got a potential juror dismissed over a 2017 social media post.
The potential juror had written on Facebook about Trump, who was president at the time.
They wrote: ‘Take him out and lock him up.’
When the potential juror was called into court to explain himself, he said, “I had strong feelings at the time,” but that today he could be impartial.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits as his attorney Todd Blanche speaks during the second day of jury selection in his hush-money criminal trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, New York, U.S., April 16, 2024
Former US President Donald Trump sits in court with lawyer Todd Blanche on the second day of his trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York City, New York, USA April 16, 2024
Judge Merchan said quote about wanting Trump to be thrown in jail was a problem.
He said, “Everyone knows that if Mr. Trump is found guilty in this case, there is a possible prison sentence which would be incarceration.”
Then Trump, looking on, shook his head.
Judge Merchan said, “I don’t think I can let this juror stay.”
Former US President Donald Trump sits with his lawyers as Judge Juan Merchan oversees proceedings at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, April 15, 2024, in this courtroom sketch
Stormy Daniels appears at an event on May 23, 2018 in West Hollywood, California
Judge Merchan then denied a request to dismiss a female potential juror over her husband’s Facebook posts, leading to a bizarre sequence in court.
The judge described a meme of a character from “The Simpsons” holding Trump’s head with a photo of Barack Obama in the frame.
The caption read: ‘I don’t think this is what they meant by orange is the new black’.
The judge read out another message that was a meme with the caption: “The Avengers unite against Donald Trump… and to get Mark Ruffalo naked.”
Judge Merchan said if this was the worst they could find on the juror, were messages from her husband that were “humorous, albeit not very good humor,” from eight years ago, it gave him confidence in the juror.