Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has accused conservative media figure Clay Travis of jury tampering despite the start of former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York over an alleged hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Travis, a prominent commentator for the sports media website OutKick and a regular on Fox News, used social media to influence potential jurors.
In a post on platform X, Travis urged Trump supporters within the New York City jury pool to strive to get selected for the jury, then advocate for a hung jury to thwart the trial. He described such actions as “the most patriotic thing you could possibly do.”
Clay Travis (Credits: Barrett News Media)
Swalwell, a staunch critic of Trump and a frequent target of conservative media, quickly responded by sharing a screenshot of Travis’s post, accusing him of attempting to tamper with the jury. “Jury tampering. That’s what they do. *It’s a felony,” Swalwell noted, underlining the seriousness of Travis’s actions according to legal standards.
The backdrop of this controversy is the high-profile trial of Trump, who faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
These charges relate to allegations that he criminally concealed a payment made to Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election, ostensibly to prevent any negative impact on his campaign. Trump has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Donald Trump (Credits: The New Yorker)
Jury selection, which began on Monday, is seen as a critical phase in this trial, given the case’s political sensitivities and the former president’s public influence. Travis’s comments have sparked a fierce debate over the boundary between free speech and unlawful interference in judicial processes.
This incident is reflective of the broader tensions and the polarized nature of American politics, especially in cases involving high-profile figures like Trump.
Legal experts and commentators are closely watching the trial, as it not only tests the limits of legal accountability for past presidents but also examines the influence of media personalities in shaping public and judicial opinion in legally sensitive contexts.
The outcome of this trial, and the debates surrounding it, are set to have a lasting impact on the legal and political landscape in the United States.
