Quick Hit:

A juror in former President Trump's criminal trial was dismissed after it was revealed he had been previously arrested for tearing down right-leaning political ads. This comes shortly after another juror was excused for expressing concerns about her ability to remain fair and impartial.

Key Details:

• The dismissed juror, known as Juror #4, was arrested in Westchester, N.Y. at an undisclosed time for tearing down right-leaning political advertisements.
• Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass also revealed that the juror's wife had been involved in a "corruption inquiry" requiring a "deferred prosecution agreement with the district attorney's office."
• Following the dismissal of Juror #4 and Juror #2, only five jurors remain sworn in, with thirteen more needed before opening arguments can commence.

Diving Deeper:

The dismissal of Juror #4 from former President Trump's criminal trial has added another layer of complexity to the already high-profile case. The juror was excused by Judge Juan Merchan after it was revealed that he had been arrested for tearing down political advertisements that leaned towards the right. 

It was further revealed that the juror's wife had previously been implicated in a corruption inquiry that necessitated a deferred prosecution agreement. This information was not disclosed in the juror questionnaire, which asks potential jurors to list any arrests or legal issues involving themselves or close relatives.

The dismissal of Juror #4 comes on the heels of the excusal of Juror #2, a nurse from Manhattan's Upper East Side. She expressed concerns about her ability to remain fair and impartial in the trial, citing potential outside influence and pressure from family and friends. Judge Merchan expressed regret at her departure, stating, "We lost what would have been a good juror."

With the dismissal of these two jurors, only five remain sworn in. Thirteen more jurors are needed before the trial can proceed to opening arguments. As the selection process continues, the court and the public await further developments in this high-stakes trial.