JUST IN: Trump Juror Breaks Down In Tears After Revealing Connection To Chris Christie

The trial involving former President Donald Trump and alleged hush money payments resumed Friday with jury selection for the fourth day. So far, 12 jurors and one alternate have been seated amid challenging proceedings that saw the dismissal of two jurors.

Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, is the first U.S. president to face a criminal trial.

During the selection process, potential jurors were questioned by Trump’s attorneys and prosecutors from the DA’s office. One potential juror was excused after revealing connections to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney. She disclosed that her father is a lifelong friend of Christie and she works at the same company as Cohen’s son, which led her to question her impartiality. Cohen is anticipated to serve as a witness against Trump during the trial.

The juror became emotional and began to cry as she expressed her feelings to the court. “I feel so nervous and anxious right now,” she said according to Fox News.

She continued, “I don’t want to waste the court’s time,” and admitted her doubts about her capacity to serve impartially. “I thought I could do this. This is so much more stressful than I thought it was going to be.” The judge summoned her to the bench for a brief conversation, after which she was excused from duty.

The criminal trial centers on allegations of “hush money” payments and is notable as it is the first time a former or sitting president has been criminally charged. The case has attracted extensive media coverage because of its implications and Trump’s high profile.

The trial is anticipated to last about two months and is still in the jury selection phase. The trial is not being televised; however, news reporters and producers are permitted in the courtroom to relay updates to the public.

At the heart of the allegations are payments made to two women, Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model. Prosecutors say the payments were made to prevent the pair from speaking about their past affairs with Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, potentially influencing the election’s outcome. The legal issues focus on whether these payments were campaign finance violations and other related crimes, including business record falsifications.

Trump faces several felony charges, including falsification of business records. The indictment alleges these records were altered to cover up the payments’ true purpose, thus potentially affecting the presidential election. The trial also explores how these actions fit within U.S. election laws and the required transparency during campaigns. The prosecution contends that hiding these payments aimed to improperly sway the election by keeping crucial information from voters.

Key testimonies and extensive scrutiny of financial transactions and communications related to the payments have been pivotal. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer who arranged the payments, is among the high-profile witnesses.