Jonathan Turley Says Jury’s Latest Move Suggests ‘At Least One Juror’ Is Not Convinced

Amidst the relentless hum of New York City, the courtroom drama featuring former President Donald Trump took a curious twist Wednesday afternoon. As the jury sent a second note requesting further instructions, the air shifted as Trump’s defense team shared a guarded smile, hinting at newfound optimism. Meanwhile the District Attorney’s representatives could not mask their growing apprehension.

The jury is set to deliberate over 34 counts of falsified business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. NBC’s Katherine Doyle reported at 1:05 PM PDT: “The district attorney’s team looks tense and apprehensive. Todd Blanche, on Trump’s defense team, just cracked a tight smile. Trump, Blanche and Emil Bove, another one of Trump’s attorneys, are whispering among themselves and look newly animated.”

This subtle shift in courtroom dynamics came shortly after jurors were dismissed for the day following a few intense hours of deliberations. Trump faces charges alleging he falsified business records to conceal a payment made during the tail end of his 2016 presidential campaign. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. The legal implications are massive, as they not only test the boundaries of business ethics and legal responsibility but also sit at the heart of presidential accountability.

The jury’s request to Judge Merchan to reiterate instructions is a typical yet telling part of trial procedures. However, this ordinary act has sparked extraordinary reactions. Legal analyst Jonathan Turley weighed in on the development via X, suggesting that the request “is particularly interesting. I cannot imagine a need for the instruction unless there was an early disagreement in that room on the evidence and the standards,” Turley wrote.

“That could indicate at least one juror who is not convinced by either Steinglass or Blanche saying that this is a no brainer.”

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…Another intriguing possibility. One threshold issue is whether any of Cohen's testimony should be considered. What if a juror invoked Merchan's instruction that, if Cohen lied on any material point, the jury should feel free to disregard the entirety of his testimony. That…

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) May 29, 2024

“One threshold issue is whether any of Cohen’s testimony should be considered,” Turley continued. “What if a juror invoked Merchan’s instruction that, if Cohen lied on any material point, the jury should feel free to disregard the entirety of his testimony. That would raise whether there is corroboration (as in the Trump Tower) as well as the instruction.”

Jurors concluded their deliberations for the day at 4:06 p.m. and were reminded by Judge Merchan to keep the details of their discussions private. He said that they should not discuss the case with anyone, exchange information for any benefits, or consume any media coverage related to the trial. Prosecutors informed Judge Merchan that the testimony from Pecker and Cohen, which the jurors requested to rehear, spans approximately 30 pages and is expected to take around 30 minutes to reread.

Deliberations are set to continue with the jury reconvening at 9:30 AM tomorrow. The focus will remain intensely on how the jurors interpret the instructions and the evidence laid before them. As the legal teams prepare for another day, the defense’s brief moment of levity contrasts sharply with the prosecution’s apparent anxiety, hinting at the unpredictable nature of jury trials.

As Trump walked past the gathered reporters on Wednesday, he reportedly pumped his fist but chose not to stop for comments.

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