The jurors in the trial of former President Donald Trump deliberated for a second day on Thursday, focusing on whether he should be convicted of felony charges related to falsification of business records. The jurors began deliberations on Wednesday and continued on Thursday, requesting to hear several portions of testimony related to a “catch-and-kill” scheme to silence negative stories about Trump before the 2016 election. It is currently unclear when a ruling will be made.
The jurors have shown interest in testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and ex-attorney Michael Cohen regarding meetings with Trump about silencing negative stories. They also requested to hear about a scheme to silence model Karen McDougal, who alleged an affair with Trump, and a phone call between Pecker and Trump about paying off McDougal. The jurors also asked for a review of Judge Juan Merchan’s instructions before beginning deliberations on Thursday.
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsification of business records, and jurors must also determine if he falsified records to cover up a violation of election law. The jury’s decision could lead to convictions or acquittals on some or all of the charges, or a hung jury if a unanimous verdict cannot be reached. If convicted, Trump could face fines and possible prison time, with sentencing ultimately decided by Judge Juan Merchan.
The 12 jurors are a diverse group, including two lawyers, a teacher, software engineer, and other professionals. Most expressed impartiality towards Trump, with only a couple indicating issues with his politics or persona. The trial against Trump began in mid-April following a lengthy investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. The charges against Trump stem from reimbursement checks he sent to Cohen in 2017, which prosecutors allege were falsely labeled as legal services related to a hush money scheme involving Stormy Daniels.
Throughout the trial, witnesses like Cohen and Pecker testified, with Trump’s defense seeking to discredit Cohen’s testimony. Trump himself did not testify in his defense, and his lawyers maintained his innocence, claiming he was not involved in the hush money scheme. The jurors will continue deliberations to reach a verdict, which could result in fines and prison time for Trump if he is convicted. The sentencing process, if necessary, would follow the verdict and be decided by Judge Merchan.
