The jury in the NY v. Trump case will receive instructions on Wednesday to guide their deliberations and determine the verdict for the former president, who is facing charges of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges stem from payments made to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic performer, during the lead-up to the 2016 election.
The framework that the Manhattan jury will utilize to consider the charges against former President Donald Trump will be revealed by Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday. The instructions will be issued nearly a week after they were initially set for release, following weeks of speculation about the specific violations the jury will need to determine.
Prosecutors charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, alleging that he falsified records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The jury instructions are expected to come after a full day of closing arguments delivered by New York prosecutors and Trump defense attorneys. Prosecutors argued that the evidence presented during the trial proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records to conceal the payment. They presented evidence that Trump directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to make the payment and then reimburse him through his company, the Trump Organization.
Defense attorneys, on the other hand, argued that there is reasonable doubt about whether Trump had any knowledge of the payment or the intent to defraud anyone. They also attacked Cohen's credibility, claiming that he lied under oath and is a biased witness.
The jury will be instructed to consider all the evidence presented during the trial and apply the law as instructed by Judge Merchan. They must reach a unanimous verdict on each of the 34 counts against Trump.
If the jury finds Trump guilty of all or some of the charges, he could face significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. However, if the jury finds him not guilty on all charges, he will be acquitted.
The outcome of the trial will have far-reaching implications for Trump and American politics as a whole. A guilty verdict could damage his reputation and make it more difficult for him to run for public office again. An acquittal could embolden him and his supporters and signal that he can escape accountability for his actions.
The trial has been closely watched by legal experts and the media, and the jury instructions are expected to provide a crucial roadmap for the jury's deliberations. The verdict is expected to be announced after the jury has had time to consider the instructions and reach a decision.
