Jury seated in Trump trial
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Jury selection is now complete in the high-profile trial of former president Donald Trump.
The panel will decide his fate in a case where he stands accused of an illegal hush money scheme.
The jury selection process has been long and exhaustive, but it sets the court up to move ahead with arguments and testimony that are expected to be dramatic.
As his trial moves forward the former president is fuming.
"This is a rigged trial,” said Trump.
This week the court selected 12 jurors and 6 alternates. George Washington University Law Professor Stephen Saltzburg says the process focused on finding people who can be fair and impartial.
“Both sides had a chance to strike jurors they didn't like, and we ended up with what we needed,” said Saltzburg.
Prosecutors say Trump participated in an illegal hush money scheme to cover up an alleged affair with an adult film star and on Monday lawyers from both sides will have the chance to present their opening statements to the jury.
"It's a much faster process than a lot of people predicted,” said Saltzburg.
Trump expressed frustration that the trial is keeping him off the campaign trail.
“I am sitting in a courthouse all day long. This is going on for the week and this will go on for another four or five weeks and it's very unfair," Trump said.
He also complained about a gag order from the judge that bars him from publicly criticizing witnesses.
“The gag order has to come off I should be allowed to speak,” Trump added.
The prosecution says he's violated that gag order pointing to his Truth Social post lashing out at his former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels - two key witnesses in the case.
"Some of the things that defendant Trump has already said, I think would have gotten an ordinary defendant held in contempt of court,” said Saltzburg.
The judge says he will hold a hearing on Wednesday to determine if Trump did violate the gag order and whether to fine him for it.