Jury deliberations began on Wednesday in Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money case in New York, with proceedings starting just before 11:30 a.m. local time.
Following the commencement of deliberations, Trump vocally criticized the trial and made a dramatic comparison, stating in the hallway: “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges.
The charges are rigged.
The whole thing is rigged.”
The jury deliberated for around four-and-a-half hours before adjourning at 4 p.m.
They sent two notes to the court in the late afternoon: one requesting to hear testimony from two key witnesses, and the other asking to review Judge Juan Merchan’s instructions.
Prior to deliberations, Judge Merchan had outlined the legal framework the jurors should use to evaluate the case.
Judge Merchan emphasized that his comments during the trial should not be interpreted as indicating Trump’s guilt or innocence.
He reminded the jurors, “It is not my responsibility to judge the evidence here.
You are the judges of the facts.” Merchan also instructed the jurors not to consider potential sentencing or punishment when making their decision, stating that determining a possible sentence is “my responsibility” and not the jurors’.
Trump faces charges of falsifying business records connected to a payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. He is the first U.S. president, former or current, to stand trial on criminal charges.
Manhattan prosecutors assert that Trump’s then-attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 just days before the election to prevent her from disclosing an alleged extramarital affair.
They argue that Trump, Cohen, and tabloid executive David Pecker conspired in Trump Tower in 2015 to suppress damaging information.
Jurors requested to review testimony related to a phone call between Trump and Pecker, Pecker’s handling of another alleged Trump paramour’s life rights, and details of the Trump Tower meeting, including Cohen’s testimony on the matter.
Judge Merchan explained that Trump could be found guilty even if he did not personally commit the unlawful acts, as long as he directed others to do so.
He clarified, “When one person engages in conduct which constitutes an offense, another is criminally liable for such conduct when, acting with the state of mind required for that offense, he or she solicits, requests, commands, importunes or intentionally aids in that conduct.”
To convict Trump, the jurors must find beyond a reasonable doubt that he solicited or aided the crime with the required intent.
This stage of Trump’s case is crucial.
The jury’s verdict will determine his guilt or innocence. If found guilty, Trump, who is a leading Republican presidential candidate, could face imprisonment, although it is considered unlikely.
Trump denies the charges.
Trump is also facing three other criminal cases: one for attempting to influence the 2020 election in Georgia, another related to the January 6 Capitol attack, and a third involving his handling of sensitive documents after leaving the White House.
These cases are pending and unlikely to conclude before the November election.
Despite his legal challenges, Trump’s standing in the polls remains strong. He maintains a slight lead over Joe Biden in some polls and shows considerable strength in key states.
On Tuesday, the defense and prosecution made their final arguments. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized that the case transcended the payment to Daniels.
He argued that the 2015 plot involving Trump, Cohen, and Pecker deprived Americans of a fair election by controlling the information available to voters.
“Three rich and powerful men, high up in Trump Tower, tried to become even more powerful by controlling the information that reached voters,” Steinglass said.
He described the scheme as a significant contribution to Trump’s campaign, potentially pivotal in his election victory.
“In simplest terms, Stormy Daniels is the motive,” Steinglass concluded.
Trump’s defense attorney Todd Blanche argued that Cohen was unreliable and that even if a conspiracy existed, it was not unusual in politics.
He stated, “Every campaign in this country is a conspiracy to promote a candidate,” dismissing the alleged scheme as typical campaign behavior.
Blanche asserted that many politicians collaborate with the media to shape their image, and for it to be legally problematic, the efforts must involve unlawful means.
