A recent development in the criminal hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump has raised eyebrows as a comment on the New York State Unified Court Systems' public Facebook page hinted at a potential conviction. The comment, allegedly posted by a self-proclaimed cousin of a juror, stated, 'My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted. Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!'
However, the validity of this claim remains uncertain as no evidence was presented to support it, and the jurors' identities remain anonymous. The poster, upon investigation, was found to describe themselves as 'a professional sh*t poster' among other things.
Judge Juan Merchan addressed this issue in a letter to the legal teams, emphasizing that the court had been made aware of the post but did not request any immediate action. The post has since been removed from the court's Facebook page.
While the judge's notice was a precautionary measure, legal experts like former prosecutor Elie Honig suggest that this revelation may not have a direct impact on the ongoing trial. Honig explained, 'First, the judge would need to verify the truthfulness of the claim and then determine if any legal action is necessary.'
It is important to note that even if the claim were proven true, it may not automatically result in a mistrial, according to Honig.
The 12-person New York jury began deliberations on May 29 and had sought clarification on certain testimonies and instructions from the judge. After receiving the requested information, the jury reached a verdict later that day.
