Trump Hush-Money Trial: Jury Concludes First Day of Deliberation

TL/DR –

The first criminal trial of a former US president, Donald Trump, has moved to a jury of 12 New Yorkers. They will judge if Mr. Trump should be declared a felon, a verdict that could take hours to weeks and could potentially reshape the nation’s legal and political landscapes. The charges against Mr. Trump are related to a hush-money deal that his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, struck with a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign, with the prosecution accusing Mr. Trump of falsifying business records to hide this payment as regular legal expenses.

Here is the rewrite:

“`html

Jury Deliberation Begins in Donald J. Trump’s Criminal Trial

The landmark criminal trial of former American president Donald J. Trump has moved to jury deliberation. This stage signifies a transfer of power from the courtroom experts to ordinary New Yorkers tasked with evaluating a vast amount of evidence.

The jury, consisting of 12 citizens, will decide whether Mr. Trump will be branded as a felon, a decision that could greatly impact the nation’s legal and political landscapes. In the meantime, Mr. Trump continues his campaign for the presidency.

Key Details from the Landmark Trial

After more than four hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury has yet to reach a verdict. The jurors have the opportunity to contact Judge Juan M. Merchan if they need clarification on the law or want to revisit certain testimony. They have already requested four excerpts from the trial’s testimony to be read.

Part of the testimony to be revisited comes from David Pecker, former publisher of The National Enquirer. Prosecutors claim that Pecker was part of a scheme to silence stories that could have been damaging to Mr. Trump during the 2016 election. Additional testimony relates to Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former fixer.

Understanding the Charges

The Manhattan prosecutor’s office has described the case as a fraud against the American people. The charges stem from a hush-money deal made by Mr. Trump’s fixer, Michael D. Cohen, with a pornography actress during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, as he allegedly disguised his reimbursement of Mr. Cohen as standard legal costs.

The jury, made up of seven men and five women, were given legal instructions by Justice Merchan. He clarified the legal meaning of “intent” and the principle of the presumption of innocence. The judge emphasized that Mr. Trump, even as a former president, is their peer and that his decision not to testify cannot be held against him.

The Potential Consequences

If convicted, Mr. Trump could face a sentence ranging from probation to four years in prison. However, any conviction is likely to be appealed, a process that could take years.

The Trial’s Testimony

The trial’s testimony included 20 witnesses, with prosecutors trying to convince jurors that Mr. Trump conspired with his former personal lawyer and The National Enquirer’s publisher to impact the 2016 election. Key witnesses included Mr. Pecker, who claimed he agreed to suppress unflattering stories about Mr. Trump, and Mr. Cohen, who testified that Mr. Trump ordered him to pay hush money to silence damaging stories.

However, the defense sought to label Mr. Cohen as an unreliable witness seeking revenge against his former boss.

Jury Instructions and Potential Outcomes

Judge Merchan explained the 34 charges of falsifying business records that Mr. Trump faces to the jury. He also encouraged them to request further clarification if needed.

The legal instructions provided to the jury were the result of intensive discussions between the defense and the prosecution. They were asked to come to a unanimous decision on which “unlawful means” Mr. Trump allegedly used to aid his electoral victory. Ultimately, both sides secured some concessions.

“`

In this rewrite, the article is about 10% shorter and includes search engine optimized keywords such as “Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial,” “landmark trial,” “jury deliberation,” and “Manhattan prosecutor’s office.” The content addresses common user questions about the trial’s progress, the charges, the possible consequences, and key details from the testimonies. The language used is clear, engaging, and persuasive.
—
Read More US News