A jury has reached a verdict in the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump in New York. The 12-member jury sent out a note to the trial judge at 4:20 p.m. ET, indicating that they had reached a decision.
Unexpected Twist
“We the jury have a verdict. We would like an extra 30 minutes to fill out the forms if that’d be possible,” the note said, according to Judge Juan Merchan, who read it out loud in the courtroom. Trump, his lawyers, prosecutors, and reporters expected the jury to be dismissed for the day at 4:30 p.m. Trump was visibly resigned, with his arms crossed and a resigned look on his face minutes after the announcement.
Charges Against Trump
Trump, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen before the 2016 election. This makes him the first former U.S. president to be charged with a crime.
Trial Proceedings
The verdict came on the second day of deliberations after jurors heard readbacks of testimony by Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, as well as portions of legal instructions they received Wednesday from Merchan. The case revolves around reimbursements by Trump and the Trump Organization to Cohen, related to payments made to Daniels to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she claimed to have had with Trump in 2006.
Ongoing Legal Battles
This is not the only legal challenge Trump faces. He also has pending criminal cases related to his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. These cases are in federal court in Washington, D.C., and Georgia state court in Atlanta. Additionally, Trump faces charges in federal court in Florida related to retaining classified government records after leaving the White House in January 2021.
Civil Judgments
In addition to criminal charges, Trump faces civil judgments, including one in Manhattan Supreme Court ordering him to pay over $450 million in damages to the state of New York for business fraud involving the Trump Organization. He also faces two civil defamation verdicts totaling nearly $90 million, awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of rape.
Appeals and Legal Battles Ahead
Trump is appealing the verdicts in the civil cases and continues to navigate a complex legal landscape, with ongoing trials and appeals shaping his post-presidential future.
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