Business
Business Top Line
Jurors won’t decide until Thursday at the earliest whether former President Donald Trump should be convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Deliberations began that morning, but the jury wrapped up the day’s deliberations without reaching a verdict.
Former President Donald Trump pumped his fist as he arrived at his criminal trial in Manhattan. … [ ] May 29, at New York City Criminal Court.
Business Key Facts
Jurors began deliberations around 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday after Judge Juan Marchan delivered his jury instructions. Closing Argument On Tuesday it continued into the night.
They were then asked to leave work just after 4 p.m. Hear the testimony The jury was then given further instructions but was unable to reach a verdict in the case.
Marchant instructed jurors to base their verdict solely on the evidence, not on any personal bias, and warned that Trump “Plotting a conspiracy “Promoting or hindering the election of any person to public office by unlawful means,” making falsifying records a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
Trump was indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records based on repayment checks he sent in 2017 to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who made payments to pornographic actresses. Stormy Daniels She paid $130,000 to silence allegations of an affair with Trump, which the former president denies, just before the 2016 election.
Trump’s lawyers have tried to discredit Cohen. testified Trump knew about both the Daniels payment and the reimbursement scheme, but in his closing arguments, his lawyer, Todd Blanche, blasted Trump as the “MVP of lying” and said Cohen “was aware of the facts and circumstances surrounding the payment and the reimbursement scheme.” [jurors] Many things that were said from the witness stand were lies.”
Prosecutors countered that argument on Tuesday, telling jurors they have phone records and other evidence that corroborates Cohen’s testimony and arguing that Trump hired Cohen “for the same qualities that his lawyers are urging him not to testify” – to “lie and deceive on Trump’s behalf.”
Business What we don’t know
How long will it take for the jury to deliberate? POLITICO He speculated Wednesday that a verdict would come no later than the end of this week, but ultimately it’s too early to say when a verdict will be reached or what decision the jury will make, and they can deliberate for as long as they need to.
Business Amazing facts
According to CNN, Marchan informed the parties that while the courtroom was in session, no one, including Trump, could leave the courtroom while the jury was deliberating until a verdict was reached. It is “unusual” that Trump would not be allowed to leave the courtroom, his lawyer Mitchell Epner told Forbes in an email, noting that while most criminal defendants are allowed to leave the courtroom, “he must remain near the courtroom so that he can be present promptly in the event of a verdict.” Epner speculated that Trump’s requirement to remain inside the courtroom “may have something to do with the security measures necessary to transport a former president in and out of the courtroom.”
Business Points to note
The jury will decide whether to acquit or convict Trump of some or all of the charges, but could end up with a unanimous verdict if they cannot reach a unanimous decision. Trump was convictedEach of the charges against him carries a possible fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to four years in prison. $170,000 fine and 136 years in prison If he is convicted on all charges, legal experts say believe That’s unlikely, but unprecedentedPresident Trump will be going to prison as a first offender.
Business Chief Reviewer
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and blasted the incident in a series of Truth Social posts before the hearing began on Wednesday. Blame The so-called “kangaroo court” length During the prosecution’s closing argument, he exclaimed about the hush money arrangement with Daniels, “The non-disclosure agreement is completely legal and acceptable!” The former president, as is customary, made no comment to reporters before entering the courtroom.
Business Main Background
Trump’s trial in Manhattan is the first of the former president’s four criminal cases to go to trial and the first time a former or sitting president has been criminally charged. Trump was indicted in March 2023 after a years-long investigation. Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified records to falsely state repayment checks to Cohen were for legal services. Trump has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have argued in court that Trump is innocent, arguing that the checks to Cohen were for the then-president’s legal services and were correctly listed. Cohen took the stand for four days as the trial’s main witness. testified Trump personally approved the payment to Daniels and was present at the meeting where the Trump Organization’s then-chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, told Cohen that the check would be written as for legal services. The jury deliberations came after Trump was already disciplined for violating plea bargain rules during his trial. Gag order The order prohibits him from speaking about witnesses, jurors or anyone else involved in the case, and Judge Marchan ordered him to pay $1,000 for each of the 10 violations.
Business References
ForbesWhat happens if Trump is convicted? The trial goes to the jury next week.by Allison Durkee
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“Topline jurors began deliberating Wednesday on whether former President Donald Trump should be convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, following nearly six weeks of testimony and arguments…”
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Source link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/05/29/jury-now-deliberating-in-trumps-hush-money-trial
