Donald Trump’s wild ‘Mother Teresa’ outburst
As the jury in his trial goes into deliberations, Donald Trump has angrily hit out at the judge and evoked the memory of a Calcutta nun.
World
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Donald Trump has made an unexpected reference to Mother Teresa as the jury in his hush money trial begins their deliberations.
A verdict could come in days – or weeks.
It is the first criminal trial of a former US president with the jury’s decision potentially having a major effect on November’s election, in which the Republican seeks to return to power.
After weeks of testimony from more than 20 witnesses, the spotlight shifted to the 12-strong New York jury, on Wednesday, local time, who have been kept anonymous for their own protection amid soaring political tensions.
After receiving final instructions from the judge, jurors left the courtroom to sit in a designated room where they alone will have the final say on 77-year-old Mr Trump.
“You must set aside any personal opinions you have in favour or against the defendant,” said Judge Juan Merchan.
“As a juror, you are asked to make a very important decision about another member of the community.”
No time limit is placed on the deliberations, but an acquittal or conviction would require unanimity.
If just one juror refuses to join the others, the judge would have to declare a mistrial.
Mr Trump is accused of 34 counts of fraud by falsifying business records to cover up payments of $200,000 ($US130,000) to porn star Stormy Daniels.
It was alleged Ms Trump wanted to buy her silence about an alleged extramarital sexual encounter which was in danger of becoming public knowledge in the run up to the 2016 US Presidential election.
Paying to keep salacious stories quiet isn’t illegal but falsifying business records is.
The prosecution has attempted to persuade the jury that the payments were effectively electoral interference which is more serious crime.
Mr Trump, 77, has denied a sexual encounter with Ms Daniels took place and denied all the charges.
Mother Teresa
If Trump is found guilty, the political repercussions would far outweigh the seriousness of the charges as, barely five months before the November 5 presidential election, the candidate would also become a convicted criminal.
Outside the courtroom a ropeable Mr Trump said the trial was a “very disgraceful situation.”
“Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged, the judge is so conflicted, he can’t breathe” he said.
Mother Teresa, now a saint, was an Indian nun who helped people in need particularly in Calcutta where she lived. In 1979, she won the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in 1997.
On social media he took aim at the judge saying: “It is ridiculous, unconstitutional, and ‘unAmerican’ that the highly conflicted, radical left judge is not requiring a unanimous decision on the fake charges against me.
“A third world election interference hoax”.
‘Hatred for Trump’
In closing arguments on Tuesday, Mr Trump’s defence team insisted the evidence for a conviction simply did not exist, while the prosecution countered that it was voluminous and inescapable.
“The defendant’s intent to defraud could not be any clearer,” said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, urging the jurors to use their “common sense” and return a guilty verdict.
If convicted, Mr Trump faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts, but legal experts say that as a first-time offender he is unlikely to get jail time.
A conviction would not bar him from the November ballot and he would almost certainly appeal. In the case of a mistrial, prosecutors could seek a new trial.
Mr Trump has been required to attend every day of the trial.
However, he has used his trips to court and the huge media presence to spread his claim that the trial is a Democratic ploy to keep him off the campaign trail.
Polls show Mr Trump neck and neck against President Joe Biden, and the verdict will inflame passions as the White House race intensifies.
In addition to the New York case, Mr Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
He also faces charges in Florida of hoarding huge quantities of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The New York case is the only one likely to come to trial by election day.
Originally published as Donald Trump’s wild ‘Mother Teresa’ outburst
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