The guilty verdict in Trump’s hush money trial was thrown into jeopardy on Friday when the judge warned of an incriminating post from a user claiming they made contact with a juror the day before the verdict.
Judge Juan Merchan sparked speculation of potential mistrial when he sent a letter to the prosecution and defense attorneys about the message that read: ‘My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted [heart emoji] Thank you folks for all your had work!!!!’
The user, named Michael Anderson, wrote the post that sparked confusion on a New York Unified Court System’s Facebook page.
It raises questions about whether one of the jurors did in fact discuss the case with others when they were not allowed to.
If that were the case, it could be grounds for a mistrial.
Donald Trump leaving the court after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records
It is not clear that the Facebook user who posted was related to any juror or had any prior knowledge of the verdict. It could also have been a random Facebook user looking to stir controversy or confusion.
The profile for Anderson claims to be a ‘professional s**t poster.’
The jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former President of 34 charges of falsifying business records.
Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up the payment to porn star Stormy Daniels so she would stay quiet about a previous sexual encounter before the 2016 election.
It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and came as Trump is running for a second term as president.
Judge Juan Merchan sent a letter to Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors on June 7 alerting them to a Facebook post from a user claiming to have had prior knowledge of the hush money trial verdict
A post from the Facebook user Michael Anderson claiming to be the cousin of a juror
A sketch of the jurors listening to testimony in the hush money trial. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records in an effort to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election
The ex-president has railed against the verdict and his lawyers have already said they would appeal.
The Trump campaign said it was ‘investigating.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for comment.
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