Former President Donald Trump, with his attorney Todd Blanche at his side, speaks to the media as the jury deliberates in this trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in New York. NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Mother Teresa couldn’t beat the “rigged” charges against him, signaling the former president isn’t banking on exoneration as a Manhattan jury began deliberations that will determine whether he campaigns as a felon.Mr.
SEE ALSO: Trump Jr. says voters will reject Biden’s ‘weaponization of the government’ regardless of verdict Four hours into deliberations, the jury sent a note to the court requesting a read-back of testimony from key prosecution witnesses, signaling they were diving deeply into the evidence and not making a snap decision.
An acquittal would vindicate Mr. Trump. On Wednesday, though, he used his courthouse platform to soften expectations. Judge Merchan said the prosecutors believe the second crime was a violation of a New York election statute that prohibits two or more people from conspiring to promote or prevent a person’s election by unlawful means.
He is unlikely to serve hard time, given he would be a first-time, nonviolent offender. There are logistical complications around imprisoning a former president with Secret Service protection, which the judge might take into consideration if he needs to sentence Mr. Trump. They said efforts to make Mr. Cohen whole in 2017 turned criminal when Mr. Trump and his employees logged a series of checks as payment for legal services, shrouding the aim to reimburse Mr. Cohen for the Daniels payment.