Special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump’s legal team disagreed on several potential questions for jury selection in Trump’s criminal trial over classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Smith did not want to ask about 2020 vote or party registration but did want to ask if jurors felt Trump had been treated fairly by the Biden Justice Department.
Trump’s team wanted to ask those questions and about media consumption habits, while Smith objected.
Smith also objected to questions from Trump’s team about their views of the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s statements on the investigation, and whether Trump was being treated unfairly by courts.
Trump’s team pushed back on a question asking if jurors could follow the principle that an indictment alone is not evidence of guilt.
“An indictment is not evidence. It is a document that sets forth the charges made against a defendant; it is an accusation. It may not be considered as any evidence whatsoever of a defendant’s guilt. Can you think of any reason that would interfere with your ability to follow and apply this principle of law?” Smith asked.
The two sides were at odds over the appropriate scope and wording of jury selection questions regarding political views and opinions of individuals involved in the high-profile case.