New York (AFP) - The judge in Donald Trump’s criminal trial hoped to wrap up jury selection Friday before opening arguments start next week in the historic case against the former president and 2024 Republican White House contender.

The main 12 jurors were sworn in Thursday, but a pool of six alternates still needs to be completed – ready to step in if any of the original jury become unavailable during the case in which Trump is accused of covering up hush money paid to a porn star.

The difficulty of choosing jurors who will be impartial when judging one of the most controversial men in the country – and also able to set aside as much as two months of their time – has been clear throughout the selection process this week.

Two women in the pool of dozens of ordinary New Yorkers being vetted for the final jury slots Friday burst into tears as they answered probing questions from attorneys.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could do this,” said one who was quickly released by Judge Juan Merchan. “This is so much more stressful than I thought it was going to be.”

Trump arrived in court and delivered an angry statement about what he called the “very unfair” partial gag order imposed by Merchan to prevent him from using his powerful media presence to attack witnesses, prosecutors and relatives of court staff.

“The judge has to take off this gag order,” said Trump, who has a long history, including while president, of making threatening or insulting statements against private and public opponents.

The trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York is creating unprecedented legal and political drama just months before election day in November.

The court proceedings have disrupted Trump’s campaigning plans, but he has tried to use the press coverage to relay his claim to be the victim of a “hoax” and on Saturday he will hold a rally in North Carolina.

The Republican tycoon faces three other criminal cases, including on far more serious charges of attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden, but these have been repeatedly delayed.

- Tight race against Biden -

Trump has framed his multiple legal woes as an attempt by his political opponents to thwart his bid to return to power. Latest polls show him largely neck and neck with Biden.

In the trial in New York, Trump, 77, has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records on the eve of his 2016 election victory to hide an alleged sexual encounter with porn star Stormy Daniels.

Potential jurors were this week grilled by prosecutors and defense attorneys about their media habits, political donations, education and whether they have attended a pro- or anti-Trump rally.

Many potential panelists were excused after saying they could not be impartial.

One juror who had already been sworn in was excused because she had concerns her identity had been revealed, and another was let go following doubts about the accuracy of his answers during questioning.

With one alternate juror already chosen, there are only five more to go.

To protect the anonymity of the New Yorkers randomly selected for jury service, Merchan asked reporters to stop providing physical descriptions of jurors and not to identify where they work.

A unanimous verdict will be required to convict Trump, who has been ordered by the judge to attend each day of the trial.

If convicted, he could face prison but would more likely be fined.