George Santos to Face Anonymous Jury in Upcoming Federal Trial

Former Representative George Santos, R-N.Y., is set to have an anonymous jury for his federal trial, which begins on September 9 in a New York federal court. U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert ruled that the identities of jurors will remain confidential, with only the judge, attorneys, and press having access to their names. This decision comes after Santos' legal team requested a written questionnaire to gauge jurors' opinions about him, citing extensive negative media coverage. However, Judge Seybert determined that such questionnaires would unnecessarily prolong the trial. Santos faces 23 counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and making false statements to the Federal Elections Commission. He was expelled from Congress in December following an ethics investigation that found substantial evidence of legal violations. During a pre-trial hearing, prosecutors indicated that the trial could last up to three weeks, with plans to call around 30 witnesses, including alleged victims of Santos' actions. Santos' attorneys argued that the negative publicity surrounding their client could impact the fairness of the trial, referencing over 1,500 articles and a "Saturday Night Live" skit about him. They also noted that similar questionnaires were used in high-profile cases, such as that of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Despite these concerns, Judge Seybert emphasized the importance of a streamlined process and urged both sides to collaborate to minimize redundant testimony. As the trial approaches, Santos maintains his innocence, having pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team continues to prepare for a case that has garnered significant public attention, with the potential for a verdict to emerge just before the upcoming election.