Just before New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan was expected to excuse the jury in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial at 4:30 p.m. today, the jury at 4:20 announced it had reached a verdict.
When Trump attorney Alina Habba was asked about the ongoing deliberations, she responding by saying it was positive news for Trump: “Well you never really know — let’s be clear — but to me there’s obviously a disagreement and that’s a good thing for the defense.”
Trump has alleged throughout the trial that his civil rights have been violated, stating on Truth Social:
MY CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY VIOLATED WITH THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ELECTION INTERFERING WITCH HUNT. OUR FAILING NATION IS BEING LAUGHED AT ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Merchan’s instructions to the jury drew criticism after he stated that a decision to convict Trump would not need to be unanimous. John Birch Society constitutional law scholar Joe A. Wolverton, II, J.D. said the decision by Merchan undermined the foundation of the U.S. judicial system, stating:
Judge Merchan’s instructions in the hush-money trial are not just unusual—they are outright alarming. By declaring that a 4-4-4 decision by the jury could be interpreted as unanimous, he has effectively undermined the very foundation of our judicial system. This blatant departure from standard procedures is not only legally questionable but also gravely unfair. Such a directive disregards the principle that a unanimous verdict must reflect complete agreement among all jurors. This move by Judge Merchan raises serious concerns about the integrity and impartiality of the trial, suggesting a troubling willingness to bend the rules in favor of a predetermined outcome. It is a stark reminder of the critical need to safeguard our legal processes from such arbitrary and capricious decisions.
