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Trump Trial: Jury Concludes Day 1 of Deliberations Without Verdict
29th May 2024
The first day of jury deliberations in Donald Trump's hush-money trial has ended without a verdict. Justice Juan Merchan began the day by giving jurors instructions on how to interpret the relevant laws, spending about an hour on this crucial task. Following this, the jurors were sent off to start their deliberations in this historic trial.
After a few hours, a buzzing noise brought everyone back into the courtroom, signaling a development. However, it wasn’t a verdict; the jurors had some questions. They requested to see evidence presented earlier in the trial. This momentary flurry ended the day, with court scheduled to resume on Thursday at 09:30 local time (14:30 BST).
The witness list in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial reads like characters from a Hollywood blockbuster. Despite this, key players in the saga did not testify. Notably absent was Donald Trump himself, who, despite hints, did not take the stand. Dylan Howard, the former editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, was mentioned throughout the trial. Described as orchestrating a “catch-and-kill” scheme to hide negative stories about Trump during the 2016 election, Howard did not testify due to medical issues and remains in Australia.
Former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claims to have had an affair with Trump, also did not testify. McDougal received $150,000 in hush money to keep her story under wraps. Allen Weisselberg, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, was another significant figure. Michael Cohen testified that Weisselberg approved classifying hush-money reimbursements to Cohen as legal expenses. Weisselberg, currently incarcerated for perjury, was not subpoenaed by either legal team. Keith Schiller, Trump’s bodyguard, was mentioned multiple times but did not testify either.
Protests have been a constant presence outside the courthouse. Supporters and opponents of Trump gather in a park nearby, sometimes requiring police intervention to keep them separated. Today, a New York Police Department surveillance drone monitored the area. Images from the scene show the intensity of the demonstrations, with Trump supporters holding prayer circles and Biden supporters engaging in arguments and scuffles.
Inside the courtroom, the jury's deliberations are a mystery, and that’s by design. Predicting the jury's decision is both a highly pertinent and completely pointless exercise. Juries should take the time they need to reach their conclusions without external pressure. Yet, speculation abounds, with every gesture and movement of the jurors scrutinized for hidden meaning.