By Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell, CNN
Two of the seven initial jurors who were seated Tuesday were excused. Judge Juan Merchan’s hopes to begin the trial on Monday with opening arguments appeared to be dwindling fast.
By the end of the day, the jury in the first criminal trial of a former president in US history had been seated. Only five alternates are left to be selected on Friday.
It’s also clear the trial will be a bumpy one. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, for instance, said it won’t let the defense know who its first witnesses are to prevent Trump from posting on social media about them.
A hearing over what prosecutors can say about Trump’s legal history is also likely on Friday.
Here are the takeaways from Thursday’s topsy turvy jury selection in Trump’s criminal trial:
From drama to solved: ‘We have our jury’
Once Trump’s attorneys and the district attorney’s office …