More than half of the 96 potential jurors were dismissed from the jury pool on the first day of jury selection for Donald Trump's high-profile hush-money case Monday in Manhattan, in the first criminal trial of a former president.
At least 50 jurors were rejected after admitting they would be unable to remain impartial in the trial over allegations Trump, 77, made substantial payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal in an effort to get them to keep quiet about their alleged affairs prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Nine others were excused by Judge Juan Merchan after claiming they'd be unable to serve for other reasons, according to CNN.
One person was let go because she claimed she had firm beliefs about Trump. Separately, Merchan excused a father so he could attend his daughter's upcoming June nuptials, the outlet reported.
Trump previously pleaded not guilty to 34 felony criminal charges of falsifying business records in connection with the alleged scheme.
Attorneys on both sides will ultimately choose 12 jurors and six alternates.
Potential jurors are vetted through a written questionnaire, followed by an appearance in the jury box, where lawyers are permitted to ask follow-up questions.
Eighteen jurors made it to the jury box Monday, and Merchan questioned nine, before dismissing court for the day.
Jury selection could take up to two weeks, according to ABC News.
Outside the courtroom, Trump complained to reporters, "Now I can't go to my son's graduation. I can't go to the United States Supreme Court. I'm not in Georgia or Florida or North Carolina campaigning like I should be," ABC reported.
"It's a scam, it's a political witch hunt," he continued. "We're not going to be given a fair trial."
Jury selection will resume Tuesday morning.
Trump's trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
