PROGRESS. SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA
JARRETT HAS THE
LATEST.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT,
JURY DELIBERATIONS
WRAPPING UP FOR THE
DAY IN FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HUSH
MONEY CASE.
THE FIRST TRIAL OF AN
AMERICAN PRESIDENT.
SEVEN MEN AND FIVE
WOMEN DELIBERATING FOR
ROUGHLY 4 1/2 HOURS
AFTER SITTING THROUGH
MORE THAN AN HOUR OF
COMPLEX INSTRUCTIONS
FROM THE JUDGE WHO
TOLD THE MANHATTAN
JURY TO SET ASIDE ANY
BIAS FOR OR AGAINST
MR. TRUMP AND TO NOT
IGNORE ANY EVIDENCE
SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU
WANT THE TRIAL TO END.
JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN
WALKING JURORS THREE
EACH OF THE 4 COUNTS
MR. TRUMP FACES FOR
ALLEGEDLY FALSIFYING
HIS BUSINESS RECORDS
TO COVER UP MICHAEL
COHEN’S PAYOFF OF A
PORN STAR ON THE EVE
OF THE 2016 ELECTION,
WHICH MR. TRUMP
DENIES.
THE CHARGE NORMALLY A
MISDEMEANOR RAISED TO
A LOW-LEVEL FELONY
BECAUSE PROSECUTORS
ARGUE THEY ALLEGEDLY
DOCTORED RECORDS THAT
WERE MEANT TO COVER UP
ANOTHER CRIME, IN THIS
CASE A CONSPIRACY TO
PROMOTE MR. TRUMP’S
CANDIDACY IN 2016
THROUGH, QUOTE,
UNLAWFUL MEANS.
AT TRIAL PROSECUTORS
RAISED POSSIBLE
VIOLATIONS OF MULTIPLE
OTHER LAWS THAT COULD
QUALIFY AS THOSE
UNLAWFUL MEANS
INCLUDING CAMPAIGN
FINANCE VIOLATIONS
MR. TRUMP WAS NEVER
CHARGED WITH, THE
JUDGE INSTRUCTING THE
JURY TODAY TO REACH A
GUILTY VERDICT THEY
NEED NOT BE UNANIMOUS
ABOUT WHICH UNLAWFUL
MEANS TRIGGERS THAT
FELONY.
A MAJOR ADVANTAGE FOR
PROSECUTORS.
>> IT’S A DISGRACE AND
I MEAN MOTHER TERESA
COULD NOT BE FOUND NOT
GUILTY.
>> Reporter: THE JURY
ASKING FOR A READBACK
FROM THE VERY FIRST
WITNESS, TABLOID BOSS
DAVID PECKER AS WELL
AS COHEN.
AND JURORS INSTRUCTED
TODAY NOT TO CONSIDER
THE POSSIBLE SENTENCE
MR. TRUMP COULD
RECEIVE IF CONVICTED,
HE FACES ANYWHERE FROM
FOUR YEARS IN PRISON
TO JUST PROBATION AND
THE PRESUMPTIVE GOP
NOMINEE CAN STILL BE
ELECTED PRESIDENT,
EVEN IF HE’S FOUND
GUILTY.
>> SO, LAURA, WHAT
HAPPENS NOW WITH THIS
TESTIMONY THAT THE
JURORS HAVE ASKED TO
HEAR AGAIN?
>> Reporter: WELL,
LESTER, THE
PROSECUTION, THE
JUDGE, THE DEFENSE
TEAM ALL NEED TO
FINALIZE WHAT PORTIONS
WILL BE READ BACK.
THE JUDGE SUGGESTS IT