A criminal trial for former President Donald Trump continued with the jury selection process Friday, but saw a brief interruption outside as a protestor set themselves on fire.
What Happened: Entering Friday, the hush money trial against Trump had selected 12 of the 12 jurors needed and one alternate out of six needed.
After the jury selection process was completed with a sixth alternate seated, attention by media covering the event shifted to a commotion in a designated protest area outside the courtroom, where a man set himself on fire. The incident ended up being shown briefly on television, and video of the man has circulated on social media.
The protestor is a man identified as Maxwell Azzarello of St. Augustine, Florida, according to a report from NBC News.
At the time of writing, Azzarello is alive and in critical condition at the Weill Cornell Medicine – Burn Center.
Witnesses have recalled the man throwing pamphlets in a park near the courthouse. He later doused himself with an accelerant and lit himself on fire.
"The pamphlets appear to be propaganda-based, almost a conspiracy theory type of pamphlet. Some information in regards to Ponzi scheme and the fact that some of our local educational institutes are fronts for the mob. So, a little bit of a conspiracy theory going on here," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
Police officers helped put the man on fire out with fire extinguishers and coats. Four police officers have suffered minor injuries related to the fire, according to the report.
The NYPD spoke to Azzarello's family members, who said they were unaware he was in New York. It was believed that he arrived in the city earlier this week.
The Trump campaign issued a statement on the incident and sent condolences to witnesses.
Related Link: Trump Hush Money Trial Draws Reaction From Congressman, Talk Show Hosts: ‘Worse Than Anything Richard Nixon Ever Did’
Why It's Important: The fire briefly overshadowed the trial taking place in the New York City courtroom.
With six alternates now seated, the trial looks set to begin its next phase on Monday morning.
NBC News reported that many potential jurors questioned Friday expressed doubts about their ability to remain impartial in the case.
Some spoke positively about Trump and others questioned beliefs associated with the Republican Party, such as women’s rights. This could provide a look at what voters are thinking about heading into the 2024 election, NBC News said.
After the jury selection process was completed, lawyers for the prosecution and defense discussed what Trump's testimony could look like in the trial, including cross-examination.
Photo: Shutterstock
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