The jury in the financial fraud trial of Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, are nearing the end of their third day of deliberations.
They have been pondering whether to convict Mr Manafort of up to 18 criminal charges related to bank and tax fraud and his failure to disclose overseas bank accounts. Mr Manafort denies all the charges against him.
On Friday, the 12 jurors concluded their discussions without sending any notes to the judge other than saying when they would go home.
It came a day after they asked for a definition of “reasonable doubt” and clarification on the law governing the reporting of foreign bank accounts.
The trial is the first courtroom test of the Russia probe led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, though the case doesn’t involve allegations of Russian election interference.
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom and unrelated, The New York Times reports that federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, potentially committed bank and tax fraud and have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own. Prosecutors are said to be considering charges, possibly by the end of August.
The Cohen investigation was referred to the Southern District of New York by Mr Mueller. Mr Cohen's lawyers have not yet responded to a request for comment, but have declined to speak when asked by other media outlets.
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We are still waiting for a verdict from the jury, who will continue deliberations today.
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom and unrelated, The New York Times reports that federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, potentially committed bank and tax fraud and have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own. Prosecutors are said to be considering charges, possibly by the end of August.
The Cohen investigation was referred to the Southern District of New York by Mr Mueller.
The defense are said to have taken this as a good sign for Mr Manafort, although the prosecutors would likely make the same argument.
Another headline on Friday that might grab the attention of jurors was about Judge Ellis disclosing he had received threats related to the trial and was being protected by US marshals. The jury was not present when he made those remarks.
"In a high profile case, the general assumption is that some outside information may accidentally reach a jury, despite jurors' best efforts to avoid relevant news," said jury consultant Roy Futterman.
He has denied all those charges too.
Kevin Downing, Mr Manafort's defense attorney, just left the courthouse. On his way out, he answered a couple of questions, and said his client "feels good."
Here's the exchange:
Question: Any updates?
Downing: "Well, the jury is still out deliberating."
Question: How confident do you feel?
Downing: “I feel good. Mr Manafort feels good."
The record of each of those conversations will be unsealed after the trial is over.
CNN's Chris Cillizza is calling the verdict part of a "critical moment" for Mr Trump's time in the White House.
A Manafort conviction would undermine efforts by Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers to paint Robert Mueller's Russia inquiry as a political witch hunt, while an acquittal would be a setback for the special counsel.
In a break with convention, Mr Trump weighed in on the trial on Friday, calling the case against Mr Manafort at the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, "very sad" and lauding his former associate as a "very good person."
The jury in the financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort are still currently deliberating.
The judge says the jury will deliberate until 6.15pm.
Additional reporting by agencies
