Trump Jury to Begin Deliberation Process on Wednesday

The trial of Donald Trump’s legal expenses is expected to move into jury deliberations on Wednesday after the judge provides instructions on the relevant laws and considerations for determining the former president’s guilt or innocence.

The closing arguments on Tuesday were intense, with prosecutor Joshua Steinglass accusing Trump of deceiving voters through a “catch-and-kill” scheme to suppress damaging stories during his 2016 presidential campaign. The defense focused on discrediting star witness Michael Cohen and urged jurors to acquit Trump of the 34 felony counts he faces.

The charges relate to falsifying business records, specifically payments made to Cohen for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. Trump denies any wrongdoing and pleads not guilty.

Jury deliberations will be confidential, allowing jurors to communicate with the court through notes without outside interference. This is the first of Trump’s four indictments to go to trial and marks the first criminal case against a former U.S. president.

While Trump’s trial takes place, Harvey Weinstein is expected to appear in the same courthouse for a hearing related to his retrial for rape charges stemming from the #MeToo movement. The judge has yet to address the defense’s motion to dismiss Trump’s case before jury deliberations begin.

The jury must determine if Trump intentionally falsified business records with the intent to commit or conceal another crime. A unanimous decision is required for a conviction, and a mistrial may be declared if the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict after deliberation.