Witness accounts need to be played for jurors a second time.
The trial involving Donald Trump's supposed hush money payments is nearing its verdict. The jury has decided to step away for a bit to mull things over. After three hours, they've communicated with the judge, indicating that they haven't reached a decision yet.
Regarding Trump's alleged hush money case, the jury has not finalized a verdict during their initial run of deliberations. They'll reconvene on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. (local time, 3:30 p.m. CEST). Unanimity is required. It's unknown when they'll make their decision public. This process may even extend for a few days. Trump and his legal team can't leave the courthouse as the judge has instructed them to stay within its confines in case anything important surfaces.
Trump stands accused of falsifying business papers relating to his hush money transactions with porn star Stormy Daniels preceding the 2016 election. One of Trump's attorneys, Michael Cohen, had previously given Daniels the money in an attempt to prevent her from revealing information about an alleged liaison in 2006. Trump has admitted to reimbursing Cohen, but has publicly denied any sexual interactions with Daniels. Trump contests all 34 individual charges. He's labelled the entire ordeal as a politically-fueled scheme.
During the first round of deliberation, the jurors reached out to the judge after three hours, requesting for certain lines from Cohen's and former "National Enquirer" publisher David Pecker's testimonies to be replayed. Pecker had discussed his attempts at preventing publications that may jeopardize Trump's candidacy. He'll have his say once again on Thursday.
Verdict may be unanimous
Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, debunked the conspiracy charge in the prosecutor's closing statement the previous day and incentivized the jury to disregard the accusation. "Every presidential campaign in the US is a conspiracy to support a candidate," he conveyed. Trump is innocent and has committed no transgressions. This trial isn't about an alleged affair between Trump and Daniels, he said, but about documents. "It's a paper case," Blanche underscored, doubtful of the witness's credibility.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Joshua Steinglass, spoke of "conspiracy and cover-up" in his summing up. His intentions seemed clear.
Possible outcomes from the jurors' musings consist of an acquittal, a guilty verdict, or a hung jury, where dissenting opinions persist. If concurrence is stubbornly avoided, the trial is deemed a "mistrial" - a damaged trial, necessitating the excavation of a new jury.
The judge will have the final say in determining sentencing at a later date. Should Trump be convicted, he theoretically faces up to four years in prison. While rare, this wouldn't spell the end for his hopes of being re-elected president in November. The impact of such a conviction on his presidential aspirations remains uncertain.
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The upcoming US presidential election in 2024 could potentially be impacted by the ongoing trial, as Trump's legal predicament related to the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign continues. If justice is served and Trump is found guilty, the verdict could add another layer of controversy to his political future.
Regardless of the jury's decision in the current trial, the 2024 US presidential election would serve as another opportunity for the American public to evaluate Trump's character and leadership, considering previous controversies such as the Stormy Daniels affair and allegations of false business practices.
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