The twelve jurors in the Trump trial deliberated for more than three hours on a verdict. Then they sent a message to the judge.
Several hours after the jury began deliberations in the hush money trial against former US President Donald Trump, the jurors made their first request to the court. The seven men and five women sent a message to Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday and asked, among other things, for certain passages from the testimony of two witnesses, as journalists in the courtroom in New York unanimously reported.
The case concerned David Pecker, the former editor of the tabloid “National Enquirer,” and key witness Michael Cohen. Both men had confirmed the prosecutor’s allegations against Trump. They were allegedly tasked at a meeting in Trump Tower with tracking down unpleasant rumors about Trump’s affairs and suppressing corresponding media reports. According to the prosecution, this was intended to improve Trump’s chances in the 2016 US election. As a result, money was paid for the rights to several stories that dealt with Trump’s extramarital sex. There was also a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The jury will hear the testimony of both witnesses read to them in the courtroom on Thursday morning. In addition, Judge Merchan will repeat his instructions to the jury, or at least parts of them, at the request of the jury.
Prosecutors accuse Trump of trying to improve his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election by paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money and then illegally accounting for the money flow. Trump denies this. If convicted, Trump faces several years in prison, which could be suspended, or a fine. The Republican could then appeal – and even if he is found guilty, he could still run in the presidential election in November.