Jury deliberations began on Wednesday in the historic trial of former President Donald Trump.
Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury instructions to “set aside” their preconceived notions about Trump to evaluate the case’s facts and refrain from making assumptions about the potential punishment for the president.
Merchan stated, “If [the] people satisfy their burden of proof you must find the defendant guilty,” indicating that it is the prosecution’s responsibility to establish Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Merchan also cautioned the jury against convicting Trump based only on Michael Cohen’s testimony, Trump’s former fixer, as Cohen was an accomplice. If they believe it is supported by additional data, they may utilize it anyway,” Axios reported.
