FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) -- The federal trial in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump is now underway in Fort Pierce, with defendant Ryan Routh representing himself. The jury selection process, which began with a pool of 180 potential jurors, has already faced challenges during its first two days.
Tuesday's proceedings saw increased friction between Judge Aileen Cannon and Routh, who held firm on his requests to ask politically charged questions. Routh aimed to excuse any juror with a background in law enforcement, but Judge Cannon stated this was not sufficient grounds for dismissal and tabled the issue for a later time.
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The voir dire process, which is expected to take three days, saw one potential juror express her admiration for the former president, stating, "I am MAGA and I love my president."
That individual was later excused by prosecutors. Routh relied heavily on the jury questionnaires, using them as the basis for his challenges. At one point, Judge Cannon even complimented one of his points, calling it a "good catch."
However, the positive tone faded as the day concluded, when Routh again attempted to ask politically charged questions that had been previously denied. Judge Cannon quickly shot down the questions, citing a lack of relevance to the jury selection process.
The selection process is expected to conclude on Wednesday, with opening statements slated to begin on Thursday. The court aims to seat 12 jurors and four alternates for the trial.