The first task in the Trump Organization trial is selecting a fair jury.

(AP) NEW YORK — Choosing a jury of New Yorkers without strong feelings against the former president is the court’s first significant assignment as Donald Trump’s corporation goes on trial Monday in a criminal tax case.

According to Manhattan’s prosecutors, the Trump Organization assisted high-ranking employees in avoiding income taxes on benefits like rent-free residences and expensive automobiles.

Trump is not being tried and is not anticipated to give a testimony. But because the Republican is unpopular in his hometown, the judge and attorneys in the case will probably want to keep individuals off the jury if they do.

Manhattan voters chose Democrat Joe Biden for president in the 2020 presidential election with 87% of the vote. With 12% of the vote, Trump won.

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan has said that he anticipates the trial to run at least four weeks until jury selection is over.

Longtime Trump Organization employee Allen Weisselberg, who pled guilty in August to receiving more than $1.7 million in untaxed benefits from the business, is likely to play a key role in the trial both via his actions and evidence.

The investigation has been branded a “political witch hunt” by Trump. According to the company’s attorneys, it followed the regulations.

The Trump Organization may face a punishment of more than $1 million if found guilty. A guilty conviction can make it more difficult for the business to get funding and close transactions.

When Alvin Bragg became Manhattan’s district attorney in January, the prosecution was handed up to him. In what has now been a three-year inquiry, Bragg has taken a careful approach with Trump, failing to file any charges against him so far.

It may take many days to choose the jury, particularly if candidates in the pool have doubts about their capacity to be impartial.

To prevent a mistrial, getting a panel with an open mind can be essential.

Another trial that took place in the spring at a neighboring federal courtroom resulted in a mistrial due to disagreements among the jurors about political viewpoints. In one instance, allies of former Trump strategist Steve Bannon were charged with defrauding a nonprofit established to aid in funding a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico.

In one instance, eleven jurors wrote to the court requesting that one of the jurors be removed for having an anti-government prejudice and accusing the other jurors of being liberals. The jury finally failed to reach a consensus on a verdict when the judge rejected.

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