Jury in Trump Hush Money Case Requests Testimony During Deliberations

Jurors in the trial of former President Donald Trump, who is facing 34 felony counts, sent a note to the judge requesting to hear four pieces of testimony related to a scheme to “catch-and-kill” negative stories about Trump before the 2016 election. The jurors specifically asked to hear testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker regarding a meeting with Trump and ex-attorney Michael Cohen about suppressing negative stories, a $150,000 payment to model Karen McDougal to cover up allegations of an affair with Trump, and a phone call between Pecker and Trump about McDougal.

Pecker testified that he would run positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents, acting as the campaign’s “eyes and ears” to prevent negative stories from being published. Cohen also testified about the meeting, where Pecker offered to help stop negative stories about Trump from coming out.

The jurors’ request for testimony and the judge’s instructions indicates that a verdict may not be reached quickly. Trump has been convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, which could result in fines or prison time if he is found guilty.

The trial, which has lasted nearly six weeks, included testimony from Pecker, Cohen, and others about a hush money scheme to silence allegations of affairs with McDougal and adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The jury’s deliberations continue as they consider the evidence presented in the trial.