Representative Byron Donalds pleaded with potential jurors in Trump’s hush-money trial to vote “not guilty.”

Representative Byron Donalds pleaded with potential jurors in Trump’s hush-money trial to vote “not guilty.”

The Republican Party is all in on Donald Trump, so much so that at least one representative is trying to sway his legal proceedings.

Ahead of the start of the Republican presidential pick’s first criminal trial on Monday, Representative Byron Donalds pleaded with the people of Manhattan to give his party leader a break.

“My plea is to the people of Manhattan that may sit on this trial: Please do the right thing for this country,” the Florida congressman told Newsmax. “Everybody’s allowed to have their political viewpoints, but the law is supposed to be blind and no respecter of persons. This is a trash case, there is no crime here, and if there is any potential for a verdict, they should vote not guilty.”

  • ryrybang@lemmy.world
    17·
    3 months ago

    As a total lay person, I have no clue what the technical definition of jury tampering is. I looked up NY law:

    S 215.25 Tampering with a juror in the first degree. A person is guilty of tampering with a juror in the first degree when, with intent to influence the outcome of an action or proceeding, he communicates with a juror in such action or proceeding, except as authorized by law.

    I guess “communicates with” is the key part. He’s shouting publicly at any potential juror and doing so prior to the jury being selected. So I’d guess not in this case?

    • Treczoks@kbin.social
      8·
      3 months ago

      As a lay person, I agree. If “publishing in the media” is indeed “communicating” (which I see as such), then this guy does at least attempt to tamper jurors.

      Are there any penalties involved in that law?

      • ryrybang@lemmy.world
        6·
        3 months ago

        Tampering with a juror in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.

        Class A misdemeanors carry penalties of up to 364 days in jail

      • meco03211@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 months ago

        If “publishing in the media” is indeed “communicating”

        Which it would not be otherwise all the right wing propaganda outlets that go even further would be facing serious charges that are trivial to prove.

    • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
      7·
      3 months ago

      “My plea is to the people of Manhattan that may sit on this trial: Please do the right thing for this country."

      He is clearly stating that his intended audience is the jurers. How is that not communicating with them?

      • Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works
        7·
        3 months ago

        Because guilty, appeal, guilty, appeal, scotus something something free speech, dismissed.

        I’d bet money on it if it ever comes to point. This should be a slam dunk but we don’t live in those times anymore. The law has become a weapon that’s applied and dismissed on a whim.

      • aStonedSanta@lemm.ee
        6·
        3 months ago

        Yeah. Hard to deny who he intended to speak to when he states who he’s publicly speaking to knowing the clip will be put on TV…