05-18-2024, 07:13 AM
In any ordinary trial, this would be a slam dunk conviction on all counts. A hung jury can happen in any trial, but it would most likely be 11-1 instead of a 12-0 conviction. The number of holdout jurors will become known. If Trump were to claim vindication, this wouldn't do well politically with the in-between voters. The headlines write themselves: "Trump pulls off an OJ."
And of course the prosecutor will announce and the judge will schedule a retrial.
It might also be the moment for the judge to announce that Donald gets 90 days in jail for contempt based on his violations of the gag orders.
Here's the thing: The prosecution are not morons, and they did the best they could in vetting the jury pool. They used peremptory challenges for anybody they thought could be a hidden Magat, and asked the court to challenge for cause when they thought they could get away with it. We should trust the jury to do an honest job until they prove differently.
And yes, it would always be possible for one or more jurors to be convinced by the defense arguments (Cohen certainly has a record for being a liar, etc) to vote for acquittal. They have to connect the original payoff with what is essentially election tampering as opposed to a billionaire just wasting a little of his money. My prediction, however, is that they will be out for one day and convict on all counts, or almost all counts.
And of course the prosecutor will announce and the judge will schedule a retrial.
It might also be the moment for the judge to announce that Donald gets 90 days in jail for contempt based on his violations of the gag orders.
Here's the thing: The prosecution are not morons, and they did the best they could in vetting the jury pool. They used peremptory challenges for anybody they thought could be a hidden Magat, and asked the court to challenge for cause when they thought they could get away with it. We should trust the jury to do an honest job until they prove differently.
And yes, it would always be possible for one or more jurors to be convinced by the defense arguments (Cohen certainly has a record for being a liar, etc) to vote for acquittal. They have to connect the original payoff with what is essentially election tampering as opposed to a billionaire just wasting a little of his money. My prediction, however, is that they will be out for one day and convict on all counts, or almost all counts.