The jury in Donald Trump’s hush money trial has completed its first day of deliberations, with the former president again calling the proceedings “unfair” while speaking outside court.
Triumph faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Danielas part of an alleged plan to bury stories that could hinder his 2016 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors say the refunds, paid to Daniels through Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen, were falsely recorded as “legal expenses” to conceal the true nature of the transactions.
Trump denies the matter and all charges against him.
The 12-person jury in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York, is now deliberating on evidence heard over more than four weeks, which included 22 witness testimonies and hours of closing arguments from attorneys.
Trump appeared somber as he sat in the courtroom Wednesday. Photo: AP
Stormy Daniels, seen here in 2018, testified in the four-week trial. File photo: AP
On the first day of deliberations, the jury sent two notes to the judge, requesting to rehear the jury instructions, as well as testimony from National Enquirer editor David Pecker and Trump’s former lawyer, Mr. Cohen.
They specifically want to rehear Pecker and Cohen’s comments about a meeting at Trump Tower in 2015, where the former agreed to identify negative stories for then-presidential candidate Trump.
The former president has frequently addressed journalists outside the court. Photo: AP
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They also asked to hear Pecker’s words in a phone call about a settlement with Karen McDougal, who alleges she had an affair with Trump, and his decision not to sell the rights to her story to Trump.
The jury cannot be given a transcript and the testimony will be read to them in the courtroom.
Judge Juan M. Merchán said that it will take some time to put together the requested sections and about half an hour to read them aloud.
Trump lashes out again
Trump calls trial “rigged”
Trump struck a downbeat tone as he left the courtroom after the jury instructions were read, repeating his claim that this was a “very unfair trial” and saying, “Mother Teresa couldn’t overcome those charges, but We’ll see. We’ll see how we can do it.”
He remained in court while deliberations took place and made a series of posts on his Truth Social platform complaining about the case.
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In one post, all in capital letters, Trump claimed he did not “know what the charges are in this rigged case” despite being present in court when the judge detailed them to jurors.
The jury will resume its deliberations on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. local time.
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