Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche speak to reporters as jurors are released and criminal trial deliberations begin at Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in New York, New York.
Javin Botsford | Reuters
Donald Trump’s lawyers told a New York judge that the president-elect’s criminal hush money trial was tainted by “serious jury misconduct” and that his guilty verdict should be thrown out as a result. said.
“The jury in this case was far from fair and impartial,” attorneys Todd Blanche and Emile Bove told Judge Juan Melchan in a letter dated Dec. 3 and made public Tuesday.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office responded at the time that the allegations were “on their face inaccurate” and noted that Trump’s lawyers were opposed to holding a hearing to “thoroughly examine” the claims. did.
The seven-page letter from Blanche and Bove has been heavily redacted. The visible portion of the letter provides few details or evidence to support claims of wrongdoing.
The exchange came to light a day after Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Marchand rejected President Trump’s request to dismiss the hush money conviction on the grounds of presidential immunity.
Please read the full letter.
The judge did not rule on other arguments filed by Mr. Trump’s team in an attempt to throw out the case. Even if Marchand rejects the remaining challenges, it is unclear when Trump, who takes office on January 20, will be sentenced.
In Monday night’s ruling, Marchand addressed Blanche’s claims of jury misconduct, saying they “should be thoroughly investigated,” but only as part of the affidavit.
“This court is precluded from determining such claims based on mere hearsay or speculation,” Marchand wrote.
“Unless and until a properly filed claim is filed, this court cannot permit the public submission of unsworn and clearly contested statements,” the judge wrote. .
“Doing so would jeopardize the safety of jurors and violate agreed-upon orders regulating the disclosure of jury information.”
Neither Blanche nor prosecutors immediately responded to CNBC’s requests for additional comment.
Jurors heard in late May that business records related to a 2016 pre-election plan to keep porn star Stormy Daniels from discussing her alleged one-night stand with President Trump years ago. President Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsification. President Trump has denied having sex with Daniels and said he was the victim of political prosecution and a biased judge.
In November, Marchan postponed Trump’s sentencing date indefinitely as his lawyers sought time to argue that the case should be thrown out in light of Trump’s election victory.
President Trump last month nominated Branch and Bove to lead the U.S. Department of Justice in the incoming administration.
