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Juror Donald Trump’s The criminal hush money trial began deliberations Wednesday, with judges deliberating behind closed doors to weigh evidence and testimony heard and seen over the past five weeks.
It is far from certain how long it will take a jury to reach a verdict in the first criminal trial of a U.S. president.
Trump, 77, has been accused of falsifying business documents to cover up hush-money payments to a porn star shortly before the 2016 presidential election. He has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
“Mother Teresa cannot refute these charges,” he told reporters outside the court, referring to the late Nobel Peace Prize winner. “The whole thing is rigged.”
Shortly before deliberations began, the judge in the case told jurors they could not rely solely on the testimony of the star witness. Michael CohenHe played a central role in the payment of hush money, the heart of the case.
Judge Juan Mercan told jurors to apply extra scrutiny to Cohen, a former Trump aide, because he testified that he was directly involved in Trump’s alleged cover-up of payments to porn stars. Stormy Daniels Shortly before the 2016 election.
“Even if you find Michael Cohen’s testimony credible, you can’t convict a defendant based on that testimony alone unless you find other evidence that corroborates it,” Melchan said.
Melkan’s comments were part of his detailed instructions to the 12 jurors and six alternates who have sat in silence in a New York courtroom for weeks, waiting for prosecutors to present their case while Trump’s lawyers seek to overturn the verdict.
“You have to put aside any personal opinions or biases that you have for or against the defendant,” Melkan said.
A guilty verdict could upend the 2024 presidential race, with Republican candidate Trump seeking to Democratic President Joe Biden inside November 5 election.
Melchan’s directive underscores the key role played by Cohen, who served as Trump’s lawyer and mediator for about a decade before the two men fell out.
Cohen testified that he paid $130,000 of his own money to prevent Daniels from telling voters about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, which Daniels said took place 10 years before the 2016 election.
Cohen testified that Trump approved the bribe and agreed after the election to reimburse Cohen in monthly installments disguised as legal fees.
Trump’s lawyers argued that jurors could not rely on Cohen to tell the truth because he is a convicted felon with a long record of lying.
Trump’s lawyer said: “He is simply the greatest liar who ever lived.” Todd Branch Charge jurors on Tuesday.
During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass showed jurors voice messages, emails and other documents that he said supported Cohen’s testimony.
Prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Daniels’ bribes could have helped Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by keeping damaging information out of public view.
“We will never know whether this effort to deceive American voters affected the election,” Steinglass told jurors on Tuesday.
Prosecutors face the burden of proving Trump guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the standard under U.S. law.
A conviction would not stop Trump from trying to retake the White House, nor would it prevent him from taking office as president if he wins.
Opinion polls show Trump and Biden tied, but a Reuters/Ipsos poll found a guilty verdict could cost Trump support among independent voters and some Republicans.
An acquittal would remove a major legal hurdle that would free Trump from having to juggle court appearances and campaign events. If convicted, he is expected to appeal. Three other criminal casesbut they are not expected to go on trial before the Nov. 5 election.
Biden campaign officials say any ruling No substantial changes will occur Election dynamics.
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