April 21, 2024 • 9 mins
Derricke Dennis is a staff correspondent and anchor for ABC News Radio in New York City, where he reports breaking, political, business and human-interest stories. Additionally, he contributes to ABC NewsOne, ABC News LIVE and World News Now.
Previously, Derricke was a Host/Anchor for the Law & Crime Network, an upstart competitor to Court TV. He also anchored a weeknight global newscast on the international news channel I-24 News. Before that, he worked as a reporter and anchor at WCBS-TV in New York, News 12 New Jersey, and WDIV-TV in Detroit. He’s a skilled storyteller and has covered some of the biggest events in recent history: the COVID-19 Pandemic, Superstorm Sandy, the Newtown School Massacre, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the death of civil rights icon Rosa Parks.Derricke is a New Jersey native who grew up in Atlantic City. He’s a graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications in Washington DC, with a degree in journalism. He is also a proud member of the Newark / Essex County, New Jersey chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Previously, Derricke was a Host/Anchor for the Law & Crime Network, an upstart competitor to Court TV. He also anchored a weeknight global newscast on the international news channel I-24 News. Before that, he worked as a reporter and anchor at WCBS-TV in New York, News 12 New Jersey, and WDIV-TV in Detroit. He’s a skilled storyteller and has covered some of the biggest events in recent history: the COVID-19 Pandemic, Superstorm Sandy, the Newtown School Massacre, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the death of civil rights icon Rosa Parks.Derricke is a New Jersey native who grew up in Atlantic City. He’s a graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications in Washington DC, with a degree in journalism. He is also a proud member of the Newark / Essex County, New Jersey chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
This is a podcast from wor Nowmore of the wr Saturday Morning Show and
Larry Mintie. Welcome back. Whoare the people on the Trump jury for
his Manhattan trial that is scheduled tostart next week with some details? Welcome
to the show. ABC News correspondentDerek Dennis. Derek, thank you so
(00:23):
much for joining us. So thejury is seated in Trumps so called hush
money trial. This after one ofthe jurors apparently had to leave because the
judge agreed that she was outed bythe media. Derek, what happened that
she felt people knew who she was? Do we know? Well, it's
not completely clear other than that,you know, she you know, felt
(00:45):
that either her identity had been compromisedor living arrangements had been compromised, and
she went to the judge first thingand complained and asked to be let off.
The judge is sort of reluctant todo that because they've had such a
hard time seating jurors. It's takenall week just to get twelve jurors seated
(01:07):
and now one alternate, but butthey need five more alternates and it's been
tough because a lot of the jurorsare saying, you know, that they
may not be able to be fairand impartial, or they're worried about their
safety and their identity. And thenthere's the normal just course of business in
selecting a jury. Jurors have tobe eligible to serve on jurors, they
can't have a felony record and thingslike that, and so it's been tough
(01:32):
to seat the jury. So everyjuror that comes with, you know,
a problem or or a request tobe let off is looked at very seriously
by the judge because he wants toget this moving so that the actual trial,
the opening statements can start early nextweek. Right, And the judge
warned the media to be careful whatthey led out about the jurors, right,
(01:55):
And what can he do to areporter that that lets out too much
in for Oh, well, hecould certainly sanction the reporter. He can
bar the reporter from the proceedings.We've seen that at other trials, so
that's certainly a possibility. You know, the judge is doing everything he can
to protect the jurors who will beseated here because he knows that this is
(02:15):
such a politically charged case. Heknows the former president has been outspoken and
could compromise the juror safety as well. So he's trying to do everything he
can to protect jurors because they're notsequestered. At the end of the day.
They get to go home and comeback and continue to serve. So
protecting them is really paramount, allright. So as I get into who
(02:38):
the jurors are, we have tobe careful here, I guess, because
I don't want you sanctioned or calledin front of the judge. But what
can you tell me? What doyou know about the jurors? Well,
they're all Manhattanites. I mean theylive in Manhattan, the Borough, and
they run the gamut seven men,five women, an alternate who's a woman
(03:00):
also selected, and there's ones asales professional, a software engineer, a
security engineer. You've got a schoolteacher, a speech therapist, several lawyers,
and an investment banker as well asa retired wealth manager. And so
these are professionals by and large whowill sit and hear all the evidence against
(03:24):
the former president. We're talking withABC correspondent Derek Dennis, who was covering
the trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan. Could you get any inclination from the
questioning of political leanings or did theyjust come out and ask that, you
know, they really just came outand asked. I mean, they wanted
to know first of all, youknow, how familiar they are with the
(03:46):
former president, whether they could bebiased or impartial. And they wanted to
know if they had any contacts withlaw enforcement or anyone in their family or
friend circle. And they were aspersonal questions like are they married, do
they have children. I mean,this process of selecting the jury was very
specific and very detailed in the questioning. On both sides, lawyers for the
(04:10):
former president want to make sure thatthere's no bias. But on the other
side, the prosecution wanted to makesure that jurors could sit through the full
trial and give it it, youknow, the attention it deserves. That's
really key for their side as well. And so you've had a lot of
(04:30):
questioning and that's why it's taking solong to seat the jury. We're talking
with ABC correspondent Derek Dennis, whowas covering the trial of Donald Trump,
the trial taking place in Manhattan.Here's a tough question for you, Derek,
and I'll understand if you pass onthis if you were Donald Trump,
from what you know about this jury, would you feel comfortable with the jury?
(04:53):
That's an interesting question because, asI said, the jury that's been
seated so far large by and largeprofession So they're college educated, they are
gainfully employed, and that tends tosay that they are smart enough to be
able to decipher the evidence, tohear both sides and listen intently. And
(05:16):
that's not to say that, youknow, people who aren't professionals can't do
that. But I think that theformer president might find some satisfaction in knowing
that this jury that's been seated isa cross section of people from New York
City, men and women, professionals, a teacher, speech therapists, and
(05:36):
so having a good cross section ofpeople raises the possibility that that the fairness
that you know the judge is seekingand that Trump and his lawyers is seeking
will be present. So I guessthe question is the answer is kind of
because as you know, in Manhattanof registered voters are Democrats. But I
(06:00):
did find it interesting that not allof the jury members are from here originally
they moved here. One is fromOhio, a very red state. Yeah,
and you had one who was bornin Puerto Rico who lives here as
well. So you know, that'san aspect as well with when you have
(06:21):
so much debate about immigration policy inthe US that Trump has made a campaign
issue. So yeah, you know, it's interesting to see the makeup of
the jury and how it will playout. Of course, we don't know.
You know, jurors sort of dotheir own thing and have their own
mind, and it really depends onthe evidence and how the it's presented and
(06:45):
how long the trial takes. Oneinteresting factor is Trump's been complaining about how
cold it is, so much sothat the judge is taking steps to try
to regulate the temperature. So that'sinteresting for a former president who raise an
issue about the temperature in the courtroomand that becoming an issue for the judge
(07:06):
to handle. Yeah, I don'tknow why he came out and told it
to the media. I guess it'sbecause he's Donald Trump and Donald Trump's going
to be Donald Trump. Why didn'the just have his attorneys raised that in
the courtroom. But you know,you're not going to stop him from doing
that. Is it true that someof the people that were let go,
and there's many more that were toldthey couldn't be on the jury, than
(07:27):
those are on the jury that theyadmitted they hated Trump. There were some
who parsed their words where if youread between the lines, you could tell
that they weren't the biggest fan.To my knowledge, no one came out
and said they absolutely hated Trump.That would be a headline for sure.
(07:47):
But yeah, reading between the lines, you can tell that there was some
disdain among the prospective jurors, atleast some of them, and that is
something that the judge would take noteof. Certainly the Trump's lawyers would take
in a note up and Trump movedto strike that jura, that prospective jura.
Derek, this is the last questionis just for you personally. This
(08:09):
is such an historic trial and thefirst president to stand trial in criminal charges.
Do you feel the weight of historyin covering this case? Well,
not only is it the first,it's just the details here. I mean,
thirty four counts of falsifying business recordsover payments to a porn star,
Stormy Daniels, to keep their affairquiet. Those details are not in dispute.
(08:35):
What's in dispute is whether Trump falsifiedbusiness records. But the payments and
the affair with Stormy Daniels not indispute, so those details are certainly historic
and eye opening, eye popping,and so this trial is going to get
(08:56):
into a lot of that, andwe're going to hear a lot of personal
details about this relationship with Stormy Daniels, really detailed stuff, likely and that
could be embarrassing to the former presidentand make headlines for sure. So it's
a trial that we're going to geta lot of information about, and it's
gonna be a lot of twist andturns for sure. All Right, Derek,
(09:18):
I hope to talk to you again, ABC corresponded, Derek Dennis,
Thank you so much. Thanks Larry. Derek Dennis, ABC correspondent covering the
Trump trial in Manhattan. This hasbeen a podcast from wor
This is a podcast from wor Nowmore of the wr Saturday Morning Show and
Larry Mintie. Welcome back. Whoare the people on the Trump jury for
his Manhattan trial that is scheduled tostart next week with some details? Welcome
to the show. ABC News correspondentDerek Dennis. Derek, thank you so
(00:23):
much for joining us. So thejury is seated in Trumps so called hush
money trial. This after one ofthe jurors apparently had to leave because the
judge agreed that she was outed bythe media. Derek, what happened that
she felt people knew who she was? Do we know? Well, it's
not completely clear other than that,you know, she you know, felt
(00:45):
that either her identity had been compromisedor living arrangements had been compromised, and
she went to the judge first thingand complained and asked to be let off.
The judge is sort of reluctant todo that because they've had such a
hard time seating jurors. It's takenall week just to get twelve jurors seated
(01:07):
and now one alternate, but butthey need five more alternates and it's been
tough because a lot of the jurorsare saying, you know, that they
may not be able to be fairand impartial, or they're worried about their
safety and their identity. And thenthere's the normal just course of business in
selecting a jury. Jurors have tobe eligible to serve on jurors, they
can't have a felony record and thingslike that, and so it's been tough
(01:32):
to seat the jury. So everyjuror that comes with, you know,
a problem or or a request tobe let off is looked at very seriously
by the judge because he wants toget this moving so that the actual trial,
the opening statements can start early nextweek. Right, And the judge
warned the media to be careful whatthey led out about the jurors, right,
(01:55):
And what can he do to areporter that that lets out too much
in for Oh, well, hecould certainly sanction the reporter. He can
bar the reporter from the proceedings.We've seen that at other trials, so
that's certainly a possibility. You know, the judge is doing everything he can
to protect the jurors who will beseated here because he knows that this is
(02:15):
such a politically charged case. Heknows the former president has been outspoken and
could compromise the juror safety as well. So he's trying to do everything he
can to protect jurors because they're notsequestered. At the end of the day.
They get to go home and comeback and continue to serve. So
protecting them is really paramount, allright. So as I get into who
(02:38):
the jurors are, we have tobe careful here, I guess, because
I don't want you sanctioned or calledin front of the judge. But what
can you tell me? What doyou know about the jurors? Well,
they're all Manhattanites. I mean theylive in Manhattan, the Borough, and
they run the gamut seven men,five women, an alternate who's a woman
(03:00):
also selected, and there's ones asales professional, a software engineer, a
security engineer. You've got a schoolteacher, a speech therapist, several lawyers,
and an investment banker as well asa retired wealth manager. And so
these are professionals by and large whowill sit and hear all the evidence against
(03:24):
the former president. We're talking withABC correspondent Derek Dennis, who was covering
the trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan. Could you get any inclination from the
questioning of political leanings or did theyjust come out and ask that, you
know, they really just came outand asked. I mean, they wanted
to know first of all, youknow, how familiar they are with the
(03:46):
former president, whether they could bebiased or impartial. And they wanted to
know if they had any contacts withlaw enforcement or anyone in their family or
friend circle. And they were aspersonal questions like are they married, do
they have children. I mean,this process of selecting the jury was very
specific and very detailed in the questioning. On both sides, lawyers for the
(04:10):
former president want to make sure thatthere's no bias. But on the other
side, the prosecution wanted to makesure that jurors could sit through the full
trial and give it it, youknow, the attention it deserves. That's
really key for their side as well. And so you've had a lot of
(04:30):
questioning and that's why it's taking solong to seat the jury. We're talking
with ABC correspondent Derek Dennis, whowas covering the trial of Donald Trump,
the trial taking place in Manhattan.Here's a tough question for you, Derek,
and I'll understand if you pass onthis if you were Donald Trump,
from what you know about this jury, would you feel comfortable with the jury?
(04:53):
That's an interesting question because, asI said, the jury that's been
seated so far large by and largeprofession So they're college educated, they are
gainfully employed, and that tends tosay that they are smart enough to be
able to decipher the evidence, tohear both sides and listen intently. And
(05:16):
that's not to say that, youknow, people who aren't professionals can't do
that. But I think that theformer president might find some satisfaction in knowing
that this jury that's been seated isa cross section of people from New York
City, men and women, professionals, a teacher, speech therapists, and
(05:36):
so having a good cross section ofpeople raises the possibility that that the fairness
that you know the judge is seekingand that Trump and his lawyers is seeking
will be present. So I guessthe question is the answer is kind of
because as you know, in Manhattanof registered voters are Democrats. But I
(06:00):
did find it interesting that not allof the jury members are from here originally
they moved here. One is fromOhio, a very red state. Yeah,
and you had one who was bornin Puerto Rico who lives here as
well. So you know, that'san aspect as well with when you have
(06:21):
so much debate about immigration policy inthe US that Trump has made a campaign
issue. So yeah, you know, it's interesting to see the makeup of
the jury and how it will playout. Of course, we don't know.
You know, jurors sort of dotheir own thing and have their own
mind, and it really depends onthe evidence and how the it's presented and
(06:45):
how long the trial takes. Oneinteresting factor is Trump's been complaining about how
cold it is, so much sothat the judge is taking steps to try
to regulate the temperature. So that'sinteresting for a former president who raise an
issue about the temperature in the courtroomand that becoming an issue for the judge
(07:06):
to handle. Yeah, I don'tknow why he came out and told it
to the media. I guess it'sbecause he's Donald Trump and Donald Trump's going
to be Donald Trump. Why didn'the just have his attorneys raised that in
the courtroom. But you know,you're not going to stop him from doing
that. Is it true that someof the people that were let go,
and there's many more that were toldthey couldn't be on the jury, than
(07:27):
those are on the jury that theyadmitted they hated Trump. There were some
who parsed their words where if youread between the lines, you could tell
that they weren't the biggest fan.To my knowledge, no one came out
and said they absolutely hated Trump.That would be a headline for sure.
(07:47):
But yeah, reading between the lines, you can tell that there was some
disdain among the prospective jurors, atleast some of them, and that is
something that the judge would take noteof. Certainly the Trump's lawyers would take
in a note up and Trump movedto strike that jura, that prospective jura.
Derek, this is the last questionis just for you personally. This
(08:09):
is such an historic trial and thefirst president to stand trial in criminal charges.
Do you feel the weight of historyin covering this case? Well,
not only is it the first,it's just the details here. I mean,
thirty four counts of falsifying business recordsover payments to a porn star,
Stormy Daniels, to keep their affairquiet. Those details are not in dispute.
(08:35):
What's in dispute is whether Trump falsifiedbusiness records. But the payments and
the affair with Stormy Daniels not indispute, so those details are certainly historic
and eye opening, eye popping,and so this trial is going to get
(08:56):
into a lot of that, andwe're going to hear a lot of personal
details about this relationship with Stormy Daniels, really detailed stuff, likely and that
could be embarrassing to the former presidentand make headlines for sure. So it's
a trial that we're going to geta lot of information about, and it's
gonna be a lot of twist andturns for sure. All Right, Derek,
(09:18):
I hope to talk to you again, ABC corresponded, Derek Dennis,
Thank you so much. Thanks Larry. Derek Dennis, ABC correspondent covering the
Trump trial in Manhattan. This hasbeen a podcast from wor
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