On Friday, the judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money criminal trial alerted the involved parties to a Facebook comment suggesting foreknowledge of the case’s verdict.
Judge Juan Merchan communicated to Trump’s legal team and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office that on May 29, when the jury began deliberations, a Facebook user posted on the New York State Unified Court System’s page claiming, “My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted,” accompanied by a celebratory emoji and a message of thanks to the community for their hard work.
The authenticity of the claim remains uncertain, as the Facebook user, who describes themselves on their profile as a “professional s***poster” – a term for someone who posts inflammatory or off-topic messages on social media to provoke reactions – might have been joking or serious about their connection to a juror.
The Hill discovered another post by the same user on May 29, which praised efforts against “the MAGA crazies” and reiterated that their supposed cousin, a juror, intended to convict Trump.
One of the user’s comments received a response pointing out that if true, they had implicated their cousin in a criminal act. The user replied with, “Now we are married,” possibly in an attempt to deflect or further troll.
Court spokesperson Al Baker confirmed that once the comment was discovered, the court promptly informed both parties involved in the case, deeming it a necessary step.
On Friday, the Facebook user defended their actions in a post, describing themselves as a “professional sh**poster,” a term they defined as creating low-quality content meant to disrupt discussions and elicit strong reactions with minimal effort.
Trump was found guilty on May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying business records, following about 11 hours of jury deliberation. During the trial, jurors were strictly instructed not to discuss the case with anyone. In New York, violating this directive could potentially invalidate the jury’s decision.
Trump, who has maintained his innocence, plans to appeal the conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, coinciding with his anticipated formal nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.
Requests for comments from Trump’s legal team and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office remain unanswered.