Government prosecutors in the ongoing Capitol Building arson trial have filed a motion seeking the removal of a seated juror over alleged political ties to the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
The request has sparked a sharp dispute between the prosecution and defense teams, raising concerns about fairness in one of the country’s most closely watched criminal proceedings.
In a motion submitted to Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, state lawyers urged the court to eject Juror Antoinette Mulbah (J30-9550), alleging that she misrepresented herself during the voir dire process by claiming she had no connection to any of the defendants.
According to the Ministry of Justice, Mulbah is a “key stalwart” of the CDC and currently serves as chairlady for Montserrado County District #13—an influential position that prosecutors argue makes it highly improbable for her not to know at least some of the accused, several of whom are believed to have political ties to the party.
Prosecutors further argued that Mulbah’s alleged nondisclosure constitutes juror misconduct and threatens the government’s right to an impartial panel.
They cited Section 19.3(3) of the Criminal Procedure Law, which permits the removal of a juror on grounds of interest, bias, or the appearance thereof.
However, defense lawyers sharply criticized the prosecution’s filing, accusing the state of improperly revealing the identity of a sitting juror and attempting to manipulate the jury’s composition.
They argued that the mere fact that Juror Mulbah is from Montserrado County District #13 does not establish any connection to the defendants, noting that no lawmaker or major figure from that district is on trial.
The defense further claimed that this latest motion is “part of a pattern” in which the prosecution has attempted to remove multiple jurors it deems unfavorable—this being the third such challenge.
According to the defense team, the state’s actions amount to an effort to “stack the jury with individuals perceived to be sympathetic to the prosecution.”
Judge Willie is expected to hear arguments on the matter on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The ruling could determine whether Juror Mulbah remains on the 15-member panel and may set an important precedent for how political affiliations are weighed in future juror qualifications.
