New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan will need to inform the jury in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial about a significant issue related to the accusations, as discussed by criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson on CNN’s News Central. Trump is accused of arranging hush money payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels and concealing a campaign finance violation. Jackson emphasized that the jury will need to be instructed on the differences between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence, especially in relation to the other crime being mentioned in the case.
The criminal trial against Trump is ongoing, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleging that the former president fraudulently falsified New York business records to hide damaging information, including a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, during the 2016 presidential campaign. Despite the accusations, Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has called for the case to be dismissed. The trial is set to continue with deliberations and jury instructions, with Judge Juan Merchan overseeing the proceedings.
Bragg’s accusations against Trump also include violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating the hush money payments to Daniels, who allegedly had an affair with the former president. While Bragg did not explicitly charge Trump with a secondary crime related to the campaign finance violation, he needed to demonstrate to the jury that Trump attempted to commit or conceal such violations. Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb expressed his expectation that Trump would be found guilty in the case, citing concerns over the jury instructions and the likelihood of a guilty verdict.
Judge Juan Merchan is scheduled to provide jury instructions on Wednesday morning, setting the stage for final deliberations in Trump’s criminal trial. Newsweek’s Katherine Fung, who has been covering the trial, reported that no one will be allowed to enter or leave the courtroom once the instructions are read. The trial has garnered significant attention and speculation surrounding the outcome, with Trump’s spokesperson being contacted by Newsweek for comment. The trial marks a pivotal moment in Trump’s legal challenges and could have far-reaching implications for his future.
