In a rocky start to Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial, two jurors have been dismissed from the case amid concerns about impartiality. The court proceedings resumed on Thursday morning after a day's recess, only to encounter issues during jury selection.

The first juror, referred to as "juror number two," expressed concerns about personal details disclosed in her jury questionnaire that could potentially identify her. She worried that these details might hinder her ability to remain impartial in the case. In a similar vein, "juror number four" arrived late to court, raising concerns about the accuracy of his previous answers during questioning earlier in the week.

Both jurors were dismissed by Judge Juan Merchan, reducing the panel back down to five members. Juror number two, an oncology nurse from New York, stated that friends, family, and colleagues had sent her news articles containing sensitive information about her life, making her question her ability to be fair and unbiased.

The media's reporting on specific details about the jury, including their employment, physical appearance, and accents, came under scrutiny. Following juror number two's departure, Judge Merchan called on the media to refrain from reporting such details, as it defeated the purpose of having an anonymous jury.

Juror number four, who had previously expressed his fascination with Mr. Trump, failed to show up for jury selection on time. Prosecutors also raised concerns about possible false statements regarding his criminal history on his jury selection form. When juror number four finally arrived at the court, he had a private conversation with Judge Merchan, leading to his dismissal. The reasons for his dismissal have been sealed, leaving them unclear.

With the dismissal of these two jurors, there are currently five seated jurors remaining out of the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. These jurors hold the power to determine the verdict for the former president's alleged falsification of 34 business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The prosecution claims that this cover-up was part of a larger scheme to influence the election outcome.

Mr. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The ongoing jury selection process will continue until 18 New Yorkers have been selected. Approximately 500 Manhattan residents could receive jury duty notices, and each day, a group of 96 potential jurors enters the courtroom to be questioned about their ability to be impartial and fulfill their obligations.

Judge Merchan has indicated that opening arguments in the trial could start as early as Monday, emphasizing the necessity to assemble an impartial jury to ensure a fair legal process.