Standing outside the Manhattan Criminal Court. Let me walk you through what will happen here over the next several hours. At about 9.30 a.m., the defendant, Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, will show up. It is expected that he may say a few words before he enters the courtroom, as he does almost every day. Today is a significant day as the jury will receive the case against him. At 10 o'clock, the jury will enter the courtroom, and the judge will provide them with instructions, a crucial part of the trial. The jury will learn what they will be deciding on in the 34 counts against Donald Trump, where they will determine guilt or innocence.
After about an hour of jury instructions, around 11 o'clock, the jury will go behind closed doors to deliberate. The outcome of this deliberation remains uncertain. Legal analysts and former defense attorneys are present to provide insights into what to expect during the jury instructions. The judge's instructions will focus on the applicable principles that the jury must apply to render a unanimous verdict on the case.
One key point in the case is how Donald Trump allegedly caused documents to be falsified to cover up payments to Stormy Daniels. The prosecution argues that Trump's actions led to the falsification of these documents, with Michael Cohen's testimony playing a crucial role in corroborating this claim. The defense, on the other hand, aims to challenge this narrative during the trial.
Another critical aspect is the alleged felony of falsifying documents to conceal a campaign finance violation. The prosecution contends that Trump's reimbursement to Cohen for the payment constitutes an illegal campaign finance violation. The judge's instructions will shed light on what constitutes circumstantial evidence, direct evidence, and the elements required to prove the campaign finance violation.
Once the jury begins deliberations behind closed doors, the outcome becomes unpredictable, as it depends on the jury's interpretation of the evidence presented during the trial. The deliberation process will determine whether Donald Trump is found guilty or not guilty of the charges brought against him.
