Judge Alerts Possible Juror Bias in Trump Verdict Ahead of US Election

A recent Facebook comment has raised concerns over possible juror bias in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal case.

Judge Juan Merchan made this known to both the defense team for Trump and the prosecutors, after one of the jurors was alleged to have disclosed the verdict to his or her relatives before actually voting for it.

Allegations of Juror Misconduct in Trump Case

Judge Juan Merchan revealed a comment that was posted on the public Facebook page of the Unified Court System that raises questions on jurors’ misconduct. The comment, made by a user identified as “Michael Anderson,” stated: 

”My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted! Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!” 

This was presented to Trump’s defense attorney Todd Blanche and Prosecutor, ADA Joshua Steinglass on 7 June 2024.

Merchan also noted that the comment was made on May 29, one day prior to the jury’s verdict of guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The trial which spanned for six weeks ended in a historical ruling, the first time a former US president would be found guilty in a criminal trial.

Implications for Trump’s Legal Team

This has made Trump’s legal team to look for more information regarding the notification from Judge Merchan. A Trump campaign official spoke to Fox News Digital and said that the campaign is probing the matter.

Consequently, the nature of the Facebook comment in the case casts doubts on the credibility of the jury’s deliberation process and may provide a substantial force to taint the fairness of the trial.

The Office of Court Administration (OCA) spokesperson, Al Baker, confirmed the situation, noting that the court alerted the parties to the online content as soon as the court became aware of it. The defense team might employ this information during the expected appeal and claim juror bias together with the trial’s admissibility.

Political and Public Reactions

The conviction of Donald Trump has sparked significant public and political reactions. Prominent figures such as Robert Kiyosaki and Elon Musk have voiced their opinions on social media, questioning the motivations behind the verdict.

Kiyosaki described the conviction as “a dark day in America’s history” and criticized what he termed a “kangaroo Woke court.” Similarly, Musk suggested that the sentence was politically driven, potentially undermining public trust in the American legal system.

Despite the guilty verdict, some political analysts believe that Trump’s conviction might galvanize his support base. Voters like Theresa Albano have noted that the verdict could inspire more people to vote for Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Trump himself has vowed to continue fighting, describing the guilty verdict as a “scar” on New York’s justice system.

The final judgment and sentencing, overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, are scheduled for July. While the charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to four years, alternative sentencing such as fines or probation are possible, given Trump’s status as a first-time offender. Trump’s legal team is preparing for an appeal, which will likely focus on the alleged juror misconduct and the broader legal validity of the indictment.

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