Donald Trump, a polarizing former and current candidate for president.

Unlike in your trial, every juror ALREADY knows Trump and has preconceived notions about him. While you and your jury may not have liked the defendant, that was the result only of the trial itself, not anything that occurred outside the courtroom.

Second, every juror has a vested, personal interest in the outcome of this trial. No one on your jury would have been affected personally by whether that alleged crack dealer went free or went to jail. EVERY juror will be affected personally by whether Trump goes free or goes to jail. This fact might be manageable if the trial were being held in a purple area (which it would be if the prosecution were interested in fairness), but, in a bright blue area like Manhattan, it definitionally means that Trump is not going to get a fair jury. No one could possibly claim otherwise with a straight face. It's absurd.

Third, not only does every juror already know the defendant and hold preconceived notions about him, but every person -- friends, family, colleagues, etc. -- that every juror knows does, as well. Imagine being the lib juror who has to go home and explain to their lib friends and family that they voted to acquit Orange Man Bad, thereby passing on the chance perhaps to remove Literally Hitler from the election. Imagine the media scrutiny that would follow such a verdict. That person's life would be ruined. Not gonna happen. People know the stakes, and they could not be bigger.