Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, recently expressed grave concerns about the impartiality of the jury instructions in former President Donald Trump's New York trial.
Habba fears that Judge Juan Merchan may skew the instructions to favor the prosecution, potentially affecting the trial's outcome.
During an appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" over Memorial Day weekend, Alina Habba revealed her severe doubts regarding the fairness of the jury instructions. She boldly stated she has "zero confidence" in the judge's ability to provide unbiased directions.
Judge Juan Merchan is tasked with delivering the crucial legal guidelines to the jury. These instructions will play a pivotal role in helping jurors interpret the law pertinent to the case at hand.
Prominent legal figures, such as Alan Dershowitz and Jay Town, have voiced concerns that Judge Merchan has shown partiality toward the prosecution in this high-profile trial. Their statements add weight to Habba's wariness.
The backdrop of this trial includes allegations that Trump discussed or offered financial incentives to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to keep alleged affairs private before the 2016 election. Trump has strongly denied these affairs and faces 34 counts of falsifying business records relating to these allegations.
Trump's defense team and supporters argue that the trial is fundamentally flawed on several grounds. They claim the case exceeds the statute of limitations and lacks a clearly defined criminal offense.
Furthermore, the defense has challenged the reliability of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's testimony. They suggest his statements are inaccurate, undermining the prosecution's case.
The next critical moment in this trial comes after closing arguments next week when Judge Merchan will issue the awaited jury instructions. How these instructions are framed could significantly impact the jury's deliberations.
In addition to questioning the judge's impartiality, Habba has raised alarms about the jury not being sequestered during this critical weekend. She emphasizes that the jurors should have been isolated to protect them from potential biases introduced by external influences.
Habba argues that jurors deliberating over an unprecedented and pivotal case are likely to be exposed to opinions from family, friends, and the media during the holiday weekend. She fears this exposure could skew their judgment.
Expressing her concerns on Fox News, Habba warned about the danger of jurors consuming biased media. She mentioned that if they watch particular news channels, they may not receive balanced information, affecting the fairness of their decisions.
Alina Habba, Donald Trump's defense lawyer, is concerned about the impartiality of the jury instructions in his New York trial, fearing that Judge Juan Merchan might favor the prosecution and affect the trial's fairness. The trial centers on allegations that Trump paid to suppress stories of alleged affairs, which he denies. The defense argues that the case lacks merit and is beyond the statute of limitations.
