Trump anticipates verdict from jury in groundbreaking silence payment case
Before sending the jurors home on Wednesday, the seven men and five women inquired if they could revisit the testimonies of two witnesses and listen to Judge Juan Merchan's instructions one more time. These sequestered jurors need to come to a consensus. If they can't agree, the proceedings will have failed.
If they find him guilty, the judge will later determine the sentence. A prison sentence is a possibility, but experts anticipate a probation or fine sentence if Trump is convicted.
In the first trial against a former US president, Trump is charged with hiding a hush money payment to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election via the forgery of business documents. Stormy Daniels alleges that she had an affair with Trump, which he denies.
The court proceedings have been active for six and a half weeks and have heard from 22 witnesses. On Wednesday, Judge Merchan urged the jurors to disregard any personal opinions or predispositions in favor of or against the defendant. According to the judge's instruction, the jurors had to ponder if Trump had broken New York's "conspiracy" law aimed at influencing the elections and a federal law on campaign financing.
The judge's reference to election laws is significant since the prosecution is attempting to show that this isn't just about document forgeries, but a plan for deceitful election manipulation. The prosecution linked the faked documents to stronger charges.
Forged business papers are ordinarily penalized as a less serious crime in New York, a misdemeanor. However, they can be classified as a more serious crime if they're intended to hide another illegal activity. The prosecution contends that the hush money for Stormy Daniels and the alleged forgeries were part of a "conspiracy" to conceal Trump's undesirable stories before the 2016 election.
The $130,000 (approximately €120,000 today) hush money for Stormy Daniels was transferred by Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen testified as a key prosecution witness in this trial, stating that Trump approved the payment. Afterwards, Cohen was repaid by the Trump Organization for legal fees, according to the indictment.
However, the defense attempted to discredit Cohen as a "liar." They demand an acquittal due to a lack of evidence. Trump did not give testimony in the trial. Outside the courtroom, the former president repeatedly denounced the judge and the entire trial.
He also referred to the indictment as "contrived." The 77-year-old stated, "Even Mother Teresa couldn't clear these accusations." Trump was ordered by the judge to remain in the courtroom throughout the deliberation period, which will be a trial of his patience.
Trump views this process as a ploy to obstruct his presidential campaign. He is running against President Joe Biden in the upcoming November election.
The result of the hush money proceedings may influence the election. A guilty verdict against Trump wouldn't necessarily ruin his campaign - not even a prison sentence - but polls suggest that some voters would be dissuaded from voting for him. An acquittal or a failed trial would undoubtedly be a significant victory for the right-wing populist.
Trump still faces criminal charges in three other instances. In two of these cases, it concerns his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat against Biden, and in the third case, it concerns his taking of classified government documents to his private residence in Florida. When the proceedings for these cases will begin is unclear.
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- The 'hush money process' in Trump's trial involves charges of hiding a payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn actress, before the 2016 election.
- Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified as a key witness, stating that he approved the $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, transferred through Cohen.
- In the 'Hush Money Process' case, the prosecutor's office is arguing that the payment and the alleged forgeries were part of a 'conspiracy' to conceal Trump's undesirable stories before the election.
- Juan Merchan, the judge in this groundbreaking trial, urged the jury to disregard personal opinions and consider if Trump broke New York's 'conspiracy' law and a federal campaign financing law.
- If convicted, Trump might face probation or a fine, but a prison sentence is also a possibility, according to legal experts.
- Lawyer Juan Merchan will later determine the sentence if the jury finds Trump guilty in the 'hush money process' case.
- Independent of the 'hush money process' verdict, Trump is facing criminal charges in three other instances, two related to election manipulation and a third regarding government document removal.
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