For people in politics, or any field that gains public awareness, embarrassing or controversial stories can be career-enders. Sometimes people go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets hidden. Is former President Donald Trump one of these people?
As of 11:30 a.m. on May 29, that’s what 12 New Yorkers have begun to deliberate. Accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company, Trump pleaded not guilty. But some factors could prove otherwise. The felony charge, according to AP News, stems from reimbursements Michael Cohen, Trump’s lawyer, received after he paid over $100,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels. In return, Daniels had to silence her claim of having sexual relations with Trump back in 2006.
Hush money, albeit ethically questionable, is not illegal. Neither is paying your lawyer. However, how Trump managed both matters might be. Cohen’s reimbursements have allegedly been misrepresented as legal expenses in an attempt to hide the hush money payment. According to prosecutors, this is in direct violation of a New York election law, which prohibits promoting a public office election through unlawful means.
Like any time a jury convenes, strict rules and parameters must be enforced. While rehearing testimonies or refreshing themselves on the evidence is allowed, the jury, as per custom, will discuss everything in secret, alerting the judge of their proceedings using handwritten notes delivered by the bailiff. While the jury has to unanimously agree that a crime was committed, they don’t have to agree on what that crime was. AP News explains that the jury has to determine whether Trump, or someone with ties to him, filed a fraudulent entry in company records with the intent of hiding another crime. According to Trump’s lawyers, they’re not looking to prove innocence. Rather, they are hoping one or more jurors will believe that prosecutors did not prove their case.
Fully immersed in their job as jurors, the New York locals were drawn in by the numerous statements made by witnesses, lawyers, and prosecutors. Having sat through over five hours of closing arguments, the jurors have a long road ahead of them. Trump has already claimed that the trial is ‘rigged,’ but such claims are difficult to prove. The jury swore to be fair and impartial in their judgment, and we have to trust that they will do so. For now, all we can do is wait and see.
