Donald Trump arrives at court for closing arguments in his hush-money trial – live | Donald Trump trials

Donald Trump arrived in Manhattan court for closing arguments.

The jury for the first criminal trial of a former president in US history consisted of seven men and five women who lived in various parts of Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village.

They come from a range of personal backgrounds and work histories. Several jurors said they did not have a strong opinion about Trump, and several said they did not follow the news closely. The exact racial makeup of the jury and the age of the jurors are not clear.

The full identity of the jury will remain anonymous for security reasons, but during jury selection individuals were asked to provide some personal information about themselves. a judge Juan Mercan, who presides the criminal trial for silenceprohibited reporters from revealing jurors’ current and former employers and urged them not to use physical descriptors that could compromise their identities.

Here’s what you need to know about them.

The defense relaxed Donald Trumpcriminal trial against last Tuesday without the former president himself testifying.

Trump had previously accused himself of being silenced and falsely claimed he was not allowed to testify, but ultimately elected of his own accord not to take the stand in his own defense.

The former president previously said he would “absolutely” testify in his money trial, telling reporters last month:

I testify. I’m telling the truth, I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there is no case.

Trump’s decision not to testify came without fanfare. The move wasn’t surprising — criminal defendants rarely testify because they would be subject to cross-examination during which they could easily say something that could harm their defense — but it followed several cases in which Trump said he did not he is allowed to do so.

the judge Juan Mercan, had gone so far as to address Trump’s claims, saying, “I want to emphasize, Mr. Trump, that you have an absolute right to testify at trial,” adding that the gag order, which prevents Trump from verbally to attack witnesses does not affect his right to take the stand.

Good morning. After more than four weeks in a freezing The New York courtroom, nearly two dozen witnesses and 10 warrant violations, attorneys for the prosecution and defense last week rested in Donald Trumphistorical criminal trial for money in secret.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with an alleged hush-money scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal. Manhattan District Attorney prosecutors say Trump facilitated payments to women through his then-attorney Michael Cohen to cover up alleged extramarital affairs that could damage his candidacy in the 2016 elections.

The criminal trial against Trump for money in secret: what should I know

Closing arguments will begin today, and then the jury will begin deliberations. A jury of seven men and five women who live in Manhattan will have to consider the charges against the former US president and alleged Republican. If Trump is found guilty, he could face jail time.

Today we are back in court. Stay with us.