After three days of deliberations, the jury still had not reached a verdict on Monday evening, marking day 15 of the tax evasion and bank fraud case against Paul Manafort.
The jury reconvened Tuesday morning at 9:30 ET marking day 16 of the trial.
At around 11:30 ET, the jury handed the court a note stating they are struggling to come to a unanimous decision on at least one or more counts.
Via Courthouse News reporter Brandi Buchman:
“Jury has submitted a note, asking “what if we can’t come to consensus on a single count?” They have also asked for a new verdict form. We’re now on a brief recess as attys review the instructions offered by Ellis.”
Jury has submitted a note, asking “what if we can’t come to consensus on a single count?” They have also asked for a new verdict form. We’re now on a brief recess as attys review the instructions offered by Ellis. #ManafortVerdictWatch
— Brandi Buchman (@BBuchman_CNS) August 21, 2018
The note said: The jury submitted a note which said: “Your honor if we cannot come to a consensus for a single count, how should we fill in the verdict form? What does that mean for verdict. And we will need another verdict form.”
#ManafortVerdictWatch Update:
The jury submitted a note which said: “Your honor if we cannot come to a consensus for a single count, how should we fill in the verdict form? What does that mean for verdict. And we will need another verdict form.”
(1/3)— Brandi Buchman (@BBuchman_CNS) August 21, 2018
Ellis told attorneys – without jurors present – that he can take a partial verdict but following this brief recess, when he asks the jury to come back in, he’s going to read off instructions from a case called U.S. v Sawyer for reference.
Ellis told attorneys – without jurors present – that he can take a partial verdict but following this brief recess, when he asks the jury to come back in, he’s going to read off instructions from a case called U.S. v Sawyer for reference.
(2/3)— Brandi Buchman (@BBuchman_CNS) August 21, 2018
Then he’s going to send jurors back to deliberate.
If they can’t come to a unanimous decision on this one count, he’ll ask where they stand on the other counts.
Then he’s going to send jurors back to deliberate.
If they can’t come to a unanimous decision on this one count, he’ll ask where they stand on the other counts.
(3/3)— Brandi Buchman (@BBuchman_CNS) August 21, 2018
Ellis has given instructions to jurors and asked them to come to a consensus on all counts. If they cannot, after further deliberation, Ellis said they will “cross that bridge” when they come to it.
Ellis has given instructions to jurors and asked them to come to a consensus on all counts. If they cannot, after further deliberation, Ellis said they will “cross that bridge” when they come to it. #ManafortVerdictWatch
— Brandi Buchman (@BBuchman_CNS) August 21, 2018
Paul Manafort faces 305 years in prison if convicted on all 18 counts.
This is a breaking story…please refresh page for updates.
The post BREAKING: Manafort Jury Struggling to Come to Unanimous Decision on at Least One or More Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
