Judge Merchan breaks jury into 3 groups to weigh charges against Trump

As the jury deliberates a verdict in former President Donald Trump's Manhattan case regarding falsified business records, Judge Juan Merchan has divided the jury into three groups to deliberate. The District Attorney's office elevated the falsification of business records charges to felonies from misdemeanors, alleging that this was done in the commission of another crime.

One group will weigh the issue of election fraud, another on tax fraud, and the third on falsification of business records. "To go further on this ABSURD instruction, the 'Honorable Judge' is splitting the jury up into 3 groups of 4. One group will handle election fraud, one tax fraud, and the third falsification of business records," Andrew Giuliani wrote.

Judge Merchan has also reportedly informed the jury that unanimity on the second crime is not required to convict Trump and that he will handle 4-4-4 as a unanimous verdict.

Closing arguments in the case were made on Tuesday, and the jury received instructions from Judge Merchan on Wednesday to begin their deliberations. Merchan also advised the jury to avoid speculating about matters related to sentencing, keeping their focus solely on the evidence and charges presented.

Trump’s defense team argued during a May 21 hearing that the jury should be required to agree on a "predicate" crime to find Trump guilty of the felony charges. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said that the law does not require jurors to do that. Merchan agreed with the prosecution.