Donald Trump's legal team has alleged "grave juror misconduct" during his New York criminal trial related to hush-money payments, seeking to overturn his conviction. In a recent letter to Judge Juan M. Merchan, Trump's attorneys argued that the misconduct undermined the fairness of the trial, claiming it violated Trump's constitutional rights.
The trial resulted in a conviction for 34 counts of falsifying business records, linked to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in 2016. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and asserts that the case is politically motivated, aimed at damaging his 2024 campaign.
Details of the misconduct allegations remain undisclosed due to heavy redactions in the letter, which was made public this week. Trump's lawyers stated they were prompted to submit the letter after a juror contacted them, but Judge Merchan noted that no sworn statement was provided, limiting the court's ability to assess the claims.
In response, prosecutors labeled the allegations as "seemingly inaccurate" and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. Merchan has expressed concerns about the safety of jurors if the details were fully disclosed. The legal battle continues as Trump's team opposes a hearing to address the alleged misconduct, citing potential disruptions to the presidential transition.