All jurors seated for ex-President Donald Trump's hush money trial

Jury selection concluded Friday in the historic hush money trial of ex-President Donald Trump as a full panel of alternate jurors was seated, setting the stage for openings arguments on Monday.

But just as the full jury had been selected and people were leaving the courthouse for a lunch break, a horrific scene unfolded at 1:37 p.m. when a former Long Island man set himself on fire in a park across the street from the courthouse.

It's unclear if the man's actions had any connection to Trump's trial, but NYPD officials said they were examining security protocols following the self-immolation, which did not impact Friday's court proceedings.

On Monday, 12 jurors and six alternates are expected to hear opening arguments and potentially witness testimony in Trump's trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records in what prosecutors have said was an attempt to cover up his affair with an adult film actress to keep it secret from the American public as he sought the presidency in 2016, an election Trump won.

“We have our full panel,” Judge Juan M. Merchan said just after 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The alternate jurors could end up on the jury if any of the 12 seated — seven men and five women — are excused for reasons that could include a sudden illness or other emergency.

The six alternates include a financial analyst who lives in Midtown; an unemployed college graduate who lives in Murray Hill; a man who works in IT and lives in Inwood; a contract specialist from Chelsea; a Chinatown resident who works in creative operations for a clothing company; and a construction company project manager who lives on the Upper East Side.

Trump is the first president or ex-president of the United States to stand trial on criminal charges. Despite the unprecedented nature of an ex-president being on trial, jury selection proceeded in a fashion similar to how it goes for every other criminal defendant: the would-be jurors filled out a questionnaire about their work and other matters while answering questions from the judge and lawyers on both sides.

However, they did so while sitting just a mere 6 feet or so from one of the most famous men on the planet.

Just after court was dismissed for a late lunch, a man identified by the NYPD as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, set himself on fire not far from where Trump's trial is taking place. Azzarello once worked for the campaign of Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) in 2013, when the now-congressman was defeated in the race for Nassau County Executive by Edward Mangano.

The NYPD said Azzarello, of St. Augustine, Florida, poured what is believed to be a liquid accelerant on his body and self-immolated. The shocking event was caught on video by a Newsday videographer, as well as shown, in part, on live television on CNN.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said officials would review whether the park should be closed for the duration of the trial.

U.S. Secret Service agents, who protect Trump because of his status as a former president, were made aware of the fire, as well as Trump himself, the NYPD said.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records. Prosecutors said he directed his personal attorney, Lawrence native Michael Cohen, to make a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump called it a “rigged trial” Friday morning, speaking to reporters before he entered the courtroom. Trump also said a gag order imposed by the judge that seeks to prevent Trump from speaking ill of prospective witnesses in the case “has to come off.”

“I have to be released of the gag order,” said Trump. “They’re taking away my constitutional rights to speak. And that includes speaking to you. I have a lot to say to you, and I'm not allowed to say it. And I'm the only one. Everyone else can say whatever they want about me. They can say anything they want. They can continue to make up lies and everything else. They lie. They're real scum.”

In the courtroom Friday, Trump listened as potential alternate jurors answered questions from a questionnaire, as well as from a prosecutor and defense attorney.

“I actually have a favorable opinion of some of his policies,” said one prospective alternate juror of the ex-president.

The Trump jurors' names are only known to the judge and lawyers on the case. They have only been identified in open court by a code containing a letter and numbers to keep their identities secret from the public.

The names of jurors in criminal cases are usually public, but Merchan had ordered the jury to be anonymous to prevent any potential harassment.

Following jury selection Friday, the court held a so-called Sandoval hearing to determine what the prosecution can question Trump about if he decides to take the stand. Prosecutors want to ask Trump about his past civil cases, including the recent $355 million civil fraud judgment and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, but Trump's defense argued those cases are irrelevant to the criminal case.

Trump has said he will testify, though he can change his mind. The judge said he'll rule on the parameters of any cross-examination of Trump on Monday.

Also on Friday evening, an attempt by Trump team's asking for a change of venue was denied.

And in a reversal, the prosecution also agreed to provide Trump's defense team with the name of the first witness they plan to call following opening statements Monday.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said they'd provide the witness's name on Sunday, despite previously refusing to give the defense the information, which is usually provided in criminal cases, citing Trump's continued flouting of a gag order barring him from publicly disparaging potential witnesses. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning on allegations that Trump broke the gag order 10 times.

If Trump publishes the name of Monday's first prosecution witness on social media, Steinglass said, “That'll be the last time.”

“Unless your honor orders the release of the name, we're not going to give the name of the witness,” Steinglass said.

Merchan replied: “Under the circumstances, the prosecution's stance is understandable and I'm not going to tell them to do anything.”