The jury in the bank and tax fraud trial of President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort has asked the judge to clarify the meaning of "reasonable doubt" and the legal requirements to disclose foreign bank accounts as it wrapped up its first day of deliberations.
Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's former campaign chief Photo: AFP
In a note to the judge that said it wanted to go home at 5:30pm (local time), the jury asked for a definition of "reasonable doubt." In the US legal system, juries are required to find a defendant guilty of a crime "beyond a reasonable doubt."
The judge also said he would not release the names and addresses of jurors sought by media outlets because he was worried about their "peace and safety."
Judge T.S. Ellis, speaking in court while jurors deliberated for a second day, said he had received threats over the case and is being protected by US marshals.
"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions. ... I don't feel right if I release their names," he said.
Manafort has been charged with bank and tax fraud in the first trial stemming from the probe overseen by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.
- Reuters
