Trump's 'Sexual Misconduct Hush Money' Trial Jury Deliberations Begin... "Up to 4 Years Imprisonment if Guilty"

Jury Deliberation Expected to Take Several Weeks at Longest

The jury in the criminal trial held in New York regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump's 'hush money sexual misconduct' allegations has begun deliberations to determine his guilt or innocence.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 29th (local time), Judge Juan Merchan of the Manhattan Criminal Court ordered the 12-member jury to begin closed-door deliberations.

Former President Trump is on trial for allegedly paying $130,000 (about 180 million won) of company funds through Michael Cohen to prevent former adult film actress Stormy Daniels from revealing their sexual encounter, and then falsifying the records. Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 counts related to this matter.

Before the deliberations began, Judge Merchan emphasized during a jury instruction session lasting over an hour that jurors must exclude any personal opinions or biases about former President Trump during the trial process. He also reminded them that Michael Cohen, Trump's personal lawyer and a key witness in this trial, is a co-conspirator.

He stated, "The prosecutor who brought the charges has the responsibility to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. If that burden of proof is not met, you must find the defendant not guilty."

The first deliberation session continued until around 4:30 p.m. that day, and if no conclusion is reached, the schedule will continue the next day. The process is expected to take several weeks at most.

The U.S. daily newspaper The New York Times (NYT) reported that if a guilty verdict is reached, former President Trump could face probation or up to four years in prison. However, the jury must reach a unanimous decision to convict Trump.