Press
The hush money trial against Donald Trump is coming to an end. The jury is deciding how the trial will proceed.
New York – The former US President is currently Donald Trump in court. He is facing criminal charges for covering up a hush money payment. Closing arguments are to be held on Tuesday (May 28). The twelve jurors will most likely begin deliberating on Wednesday on whether Trump is guilty or innocent. However, the decision should not affect his election campaign.
Trump in court: Jury decides on guilt or innocence
The 77-year-old former president has been on trial for several weeks. Trump is said to have tried to cover up hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. This was intended to silence Daniels, who had already testified in the trial, because she and Trump were said to have had sex in 2006. A total of 130,000 US dollars were transferred to Daniels by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen. The Trump corporation later reimbursed Cohen for the money and illegally booked it as legal fees in order to conceal the real reason.
Trump has been charged with 34 counts of document forgery. In the state of New York, these offenses are normally punished as misdemeanors. However, if the forgeries are used to cover up another offense, they can also be punished as a more serious offense and thus as a felony. Trump denies having a relationship with Daniels and paying the money.
Cohen testimony crucial for possible Trump conviction
The prosecution tried to prove that the document falsification was a crime that would have served to illegally influence the election. With Michael Cohen’s testimony, the prosecution tried to prove that all of this happened with the knowledge and consent of the defendant. Trump’s former lawyer is a key witness in the whole case. However, many question his credibility, as he himself was in prison for lying under oath on several occasions.
In the trial against Trump, Cohen is incriminating the Republican. “Certainly Cohen’s testimony is the centerpiece of the entire case,” said Steve Duffy, a jury consultant at Trial Behavior Consulting of the IndependentThe decisive factor for a jury’s guilty verdict is their conviction that Trump himself was involved in the hush money payment and its alleged cover-up. The twelve jurors must reach their decision unanimously. If they cannot agree, the trial fails.
Evidence against Trump is available – jury decision awaited
Attorney Duncan Levin, who had worked for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office several years ago, told the Independentthat the “business records are false on their face.” The prosecution had presented evidence of this. He also found that Trump’s defense had failed to “present an alternative situation that explains the payments to Michael Cohen, or that they were not related to an election, or that the documents were not forged.”
Punishment for Trump if convicted: imprisonment, fine or community service
If the jury finds Trump guilty, Judge Juan Merchan will determine the sentence. The severity of the sentence depends largely on whether the conviction is for a misdemeanor or a felony. In theory, he could be sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison for each of the 34 counts of forgery listed in the indictment – for a total of 136 years.
However, judges often decide that such individual sentences are served concurrently, which would mean a maximum of four years. Experts believe that a prison sentence for Trump is unlikely, as this would be his first criminal conviction and it is not a violent crime. A probationary sentence or even just a fine or community service are considered more likely.
After possible verdict against Trump: Presidency also possible in prison
Regardless of how the jury decides, it is likely that this will not affect Trump’s presidential candidacy. An acquittal or a collapsed trial could give him a boost for the November Presidential elections give.
A defeat and even a prison sentence would probably not have a negative impact on his candidacy. Firstly, if convicted, Trump would almost certainly appeal. Such proceedings would probably drag on until after the election. Secondly, the US Constitution does not prohibit running for president from prison or even holding office while incarcerated. (vk with material from afp)
#Jury #decides #guilt #innocence