False Reports on Jury Instructions in Trump Trial Lead to Threats Against Judge

The false reports about the jury instructions in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial have sparked threats against the judge overseeing the case, Judge Juan Merchan. Several conservative news personalities, including some affiliated with Fox News, spread misinformation claiming that the jury did not need unanimity to convict Trump. However, Merchan actually instructed the jury that they must unanimously agree that Trump engaged in a criminal conspiracy to commit one or more crimes, but they do not need to unanimously agree on the specific unlawful means involved.

The complex and nuanced jury instruction led to widespread confusion, with some right-wing accounts running with false reports. This misinformation resulted in threats against Judge Merchan, with individuals on social media platforms like Gab and Telegram calling for violent actions against him.

In response to the inaccurate reporting, Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the lies as “extremely dangerous.” He pointed out that similar standard operations were used in the search of President Joe Biden’s home, but did not lead to conspiracy theories like those surrounding Trump.

This incident highlights the dangerous consequences of spreading false information and the impact it can have on the justice system. It also underscores the importance of accurate reporting and the need to combat misinformation in today’s media landscape.