Deliberations begin in Trump's trial

Judge delivers detailed instructions to jurors

By: Aysha Bagchi
Bart Jansen
David Jackson
and Kinsey Crowley

..... As Judge Juan Merchan faced the jury Wednesday [05/29/2024] everyone knew the weight of his words.
..... After six weeks of testimony and accusations, salacious details and dry paperwork, 12 Manhattan residents were about to decide the legal fate of former President Donald Trump, the first current or former U.S. president ever to face a criminal trial - and the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
..... The jurors' decision has the potential to determine who leads the country for the next four years.
..... Even so, "You must set aside any personal opinions or bias you might have in favor of or against the defendant," Merchan said, instruction them on their responsibilities.
..... The Jurors had 34 felony counts to consider.
..... Prosecutors tired to prove that Trump falsified business records to cover up unlawfully interfering in the 2016 election through a $130,000 hush money payment his former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
..... Trump has pleaded not guilty.
..... Trump did not testify in his own defense -a decision the jury may not hold against him.
..... Besides Merchan;s words, the only sound was an unexpected burst of electronic audio form the section of the courtroom where Trump's entourage sat. The judge looked at the source, and the noise stopped.
..... The former president slouched back with his eyes closed as jurors toll notes and watched Merchan with eyes wide open.
..... Their alertness belied to the hours of closing arguments Tuesday, [05/28/2024] running until 8 PM,, when lawyers on each side made their final pitch.
..... Outside, a handful of anxious demonstrators gathered.
..... "I know he;s to going to be acquired - I'm praying for a hung jury," said Joe Palau, 57, a pro-Trump construction worker from Brooklyn.
..... "I am very concerned about a hung jury," said Natalie Seiler, 59, who took the bus from her home in Maryland and held a sign that said "Convict Trump Already!"
..... Merchan put guardrails on the testimony of Cohen, who came under persistent attack during the trial.
..... Jurors must not consider Cohen's guilty pleas to federal campaigning finance violations when it comes to assessing Trump's guilt., the judge said.
..... Nor may they rely solely on Cohen's words, Merchan said: "Even if you find the testimony of Michael Cohen to be believable, you may not convict the defendant solely on that testimony unless you find it was corroborated by other evidence."
..... Merchan then instructed jurors on the law related to the charges. These instructions were potentially pivotal: Even small words can make a big difference when a jury determines whether action by a defendant were criminal.
..... Trump is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree under New York law, Merchan explained, if he made or caused a false entry in a business enterprise with the intent to defraud - including the intent to commit or conceal another crime.
..... That means prosecutors must have proven not just that Trump was responsible for the false records, but also that there was a further criminal or cover-up propose. That's where the alleged 2016 election fraud and alleged plans to violate New York tax and election laws come into play.
..... Merchan told jurors that intent doesn't require premeditation, but can be formed at the time the defendant engages in prohibited conduct.
..... "You must decide if the required intent can be inferred beyond a reasonable doubt," Merchans aid.
..... After about an hour, he said, "That concludes my instructions on the law."
..... As the jurors field away, Trump stepped out to talk to reporters, bracing his supporters for a guilty verdict.
..... "Mother Theresa could not beat these charges,: Trump said. "The while thing is rigged."
..... He said he would win the election anyway.
..... But no one, not even the jurors, knew yet what their verdict would be - or how long it would take.

Contributing: Reuters.

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