Online Comment Purported To Know Trump Verdict

New York Judge Juan Merchan issued a statement this week reporting to interested parties that there may have been a leak of the guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump. Should a social media post inferring that a juror released the information early, it could have a significant impact on the trial.

Merchan made the revelation in a letter to the Trump legal team and the office of the Manhattan District Attorney.

👀 Justice MERCHAN has notified the parties in Trump's case that a stray comment was posted on the NY court system's Facebook page on May 29, a day before Trump's conviction. pic.twitter.com/EszX3HClLN

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 7, 2024

“Today, the Court became aware of a comment that was posted on the Unified Court System’s public Facebook page and which I now bring to your attention,” wrote the judge.

“My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted,” purportedly wrote a social media account under the name of Michael Anderson.

“The comment, now labeled as one week old, responded to a routine UCS notice, posted on May 29, 2024, regarding oral arguments in the Fourth Department of the Appellate Division unrelated to this proceeding,” wrote the judge.

The comment could raise the specter of a possible mistrial or another significant legal implication.

The former president faced charges in relation to the aftermath of an alleged brief relationship with former adult actress Stormy Daniels. The case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who had campaigned for office as a chief critic of the former president.

The jury found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. The former president denied any wrongdoing and argued that the case against him was “rigged.”

“This was done by the Biden administration in order to hurt an opponent, a political opponent, and I think it’s just a disgrace,” he said last week.

“This was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case, never,” he added. The former president called Merchan “conflicted” throughout much of the trial.

Trump had criticized Merchan for fining him several times for alleged violations of a gag order placed against him.

“We’ll keep fighting. We’ll fight till the end, and we’ll win because our country’s gone to hell,” said Trump.