In a significant development in the trial of former President Donald J. Trump, Judge Juan Merchan has instructed the jury that they do not need to reach a unanimous decision on the specific crime Trump committed to convict him. The judge stated that the jury could have a split decision, with different jurors agreeing on different crimes. For instance, four jurors could agree on falsifying records, another four on tax violations, and the remaining four on federal election violations. Merchan indicated he would treat a 4-4-4 split as a unanimous verdict. This approach has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial and the legal precedent it may set, with some questioning if this has ever happened before in the history of jurisprudence.
NEW: Judge Merchan Tells Jury They Need Not Be Unanimous On Predicate Crime. https://t.co/mzrdLjmRYD
Judge Merchan tells the jury in the Trump trial that they do not need unanimity to convict https://t.co/7YEcpQUzsW
This is insane. New York Judge Merchan just told jurors that they DO NOT have to unanimously agree on what crime Trump is guilty of. It could be a 4-4-4 split. https://t.co/lPrWlQYHau
BREAKING - SHOCKING: Judge Juan Merchan just instructed the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict and do not need to agree on what specifically occurred. He said the prosecution's broad approach is due to the absence of direct evidence that Donald Trump personally… https://t.co/qo38GxjiwQ
BREAKING: Judge Juan Merchan has told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict. He said there is no need to agree on what occurred. Meaning 4 could agree on one crime, 4 on a different one, and the other 4 on another. He said he would treat 4-4-4 as a unanimous… https://t.co/gyd3evsZ75
BREAKING.🚨 Judge Merchan has instructed the jury they do not need to have a *UNANIMOUS* verdict in order to convict former President Donald J. Trump. "One thing in particular that the judge said the jurors could do. He delivered what is being called really the pinnacle of all… https://t.co/uCPPABFhB3
🚨 JUST IN: Judge Merchan has told the jury they do NOT need unanimity to convict. This means: ➡️ Four jurors could agree on the first crime (Falsifying Records) ➡️ Four on the second (Tax Violations) ➡️ Four on the third (Fed. Election Violations) And Merchan would STILL… https://t.co/BzJif1PTLZ
🚨Just in: Judge Merchan has told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict. He said there is no need to agree on what occurred. Meaning 4 could agree on one crime, 4 on a different one, and the other 4 on another. He said he would treat 4-4-4 as a unanimous verdict. https://t.co/aCVQCwmdZv
Judge Merchan just told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict. 4 could agree on one crime, 4 on a different one, and the other 4 on another. He said he would treat 4-4-4 as a unanimous verdict.
So according to Judge Merchan, the jury can convict Trump without even agreeing unanimously on the crime he committed! In this history of jurisprudence, has that EVER happened before?
Judge Merchan tells jury not to consider whether a conviction would send Trump to jail https://t.co/sWwBkk3Xil
BREAKING: JUDGE TELLS JURY IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT UNDERLYING CRIME TRUMP COMMITTED, THEY CAN CONVICT HIM ANYWAY https://t.co/tLBVLmI6SF
NEW: Corrupt Judge Says Jury Can Convict Trump Without Agreeing on Crime. https://t.co/fofBYXX5Hu
Judge Instructs Jurors They Need Not Believe Trump Is Guilty To Convict Him https://t.co/QVptl3fP0J https://t.co/s0TpTXNTAS
NYC judge in Trump trial says jury doesn’t have to agree on what crime was committed to convict https://t.co/GLTHyNWQm7