The jury has a verdict in Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial.
Deliberations began late on Wednesday morning and continued on Thursday after the jury re-heard some testimony and a portion of the jury instructions.
Just before Judge Juan Merchan was going to dismiss the jury for the day, at 4:30pm, they notified the court they had returned a verdict.
They are expected to finish filling out forms within 30 minutes.
Over five weeks, the jury of 12 New York residents heard from 22 witnesses including Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, adult film star Stormy Daniels, former aide Hope Hicks and more.
Prosecutors methodically laid out the chronology of the case over a nearly five-hour address during closing arguments. They tied key pieces of “smoking gun” evidence together, reminding the jury the decision was not about Cohen.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche hammed Cohen’s credibility, labeling him the GLOAT” (or “Greatest Liar Of All Time”)
Trump stands accused of falsifying 34 business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made to Daniels in October 2016 to ensure her silence about a sexual encounter she alleges she had with him a decade earlier.
Mr Trump denies both the affair and the charges.
Alex Woodward is covering the trial for The Independent live from court.
Judge and jury returning to courtroom
Judge Juan Merchan and the jurors are now returning to the courtroom.
Mike Bedigan30 May 2024 22:02
Biden currently has ‘no plans’ to issue response to Trump verdict
A White House official tells The Independent that President Biden has no plans to issue any response to the verdict as of now.
Jurors deliberated for around nine and a half hours (allowing for lunch breaks) before reaching their decision.
Deliberations began at 11:30am yesterday and ended at 4pm.
They started again this morning at 11:15am, and a note indicating a verdict was reached was signed at 4:20pm.
Mike Bedigan30 May 2024 22:00
Court observers told to ‘keep outbursts to a minimum’
Court staff are aware that, whichever way this goes, there’s going to be a strong reaction.
People inside the courtroom have just been told be court officers tell us to “keep the outbursts to a minimum” and remain in our seats.
Verdict coming imminently…
Alex Woodward30 May 2024 21:52
Trump sat arms folded ahead of verdict
As the world prepares to hear the historic news, things seem are tense inside the courtroom.
The Independent’s Alex Woodward reports that the former president is sitting at the defense table with his arms folded.
His defense attorneys staring straight ahead.
Alex Woodward30 May 2024 21:48
Verdict reached in Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial
The jury has reached a verdict.
Judge Merchan received a not that was signed at 4.20pm, notifying him that the 12 jurors had reached a decision.
Mike Bedigan30 May 2024 21:41
Watch: Burgum becomes latest Trump surrogate to forget Covid-19 pandemic
Pretty sure things weren’t so rosy four years ago…
Oliver O’Connell30 May 2024 21:30
Trump is in the best mood I’ve ever seen him during this trial. He was practically giggling.
Sure, long deliberations could mean good news for the defendant, but there are 34 counts here, and 12 people deciding them, so that’s 408 decisions.
They also have to all unanimously agree on the two-part nature of the felony charge, so that’s… 816 decisions.
Alex Woodward30 May 2024 21:28
Judge excuses jury for day
Judge Juan Merchan is on the bench and says he is excusing the jury at 4.30pm.
There have been no further notes from them and they have now been deliberating for more than 9 hours plus two hours rehearing evidence.
Trump immediately swatted Todd Blanche’s arm as if he was like “what?” then Blanche whispered in his ear.
Then Blanche jumped up to talk to ADA Joshua Steinglass. Trump turned to Emil Bove. Blanche is back whispering to Trump, then Trump said something that made him launch himself to the side to laugh.
We have no verdict today and deliberations will resume tomorrow morning.
Alex Woodward30 May 2024 21:17
Elon Musk could become a formal adviser to Trump in second term
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC:
Oliver O’Connell30 May 2024 21:15
Trump walked into the courtroom at 4:12 pm. Pooler shouted to him in the hall: “Mr. Trump are you nervous about a verdict?”
Trump briefly stopped, turned to the cameras and said: “I want to campaign.”
Oliver O’Connell30 May 2024 21:14
