During a recent court session, Judge Juan Merchan provided detailed explanations to the jurors regarding the allegations in a case related to New York Election Law section 17-152.
The judge highlighted that the prosecution alleges that the defendant intended to commit, aid, or conceal a violation of this specific section of the Election Law.
Section 17-152 of the New York Election Law deals with conspiracies to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means. It states that individuals who conspire to influence elections through illegal methods can be charged with conspiracy.
Furthermore, the court clarified that while the jury must agree that the defendant conspired to influence the election through unlawful means, they do not need to reach a unanimous decision on the specific illegal actions involved.
The judge outlined three categories of unlawful means that the jury can consider in their deliberations. These include violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), falsification of business records, and violations of tax laws.
By providing these detailed explanations, Judge Merchan aimed to ensure that the jurors have a clear understanding of the legal framework and criteria they need to consider in reaching a verdict in the case.
