Juror’s ‘Political Bias’ Prompts Mistrial in ‘Construct the Wall’ Case

On Thursday morning, the 11 jurors despatched their notice, which quoted the twelfth as making remarks together with, “Tim Shea is an efficient man. He doesn’t beat his spouse,” and “You simply can’t vote to lynch somebody.”

It went on to say that the juror had displayed animosity towards the federal government, claiming that Mr. Shea was tried within the Southern District of New York as a result of individuals there vote a sure means however that he ought to have as an alternative been tried in a Southern state. That juror had additionally injected into deliberations matters exterior the scope of the trial, together with discuss of “political events,” in accordance with the notice.

Citing “a violation of oath,” the notice requested Decide Torres to interchange the juror with an alternate.

Decide Torres questioned that juror away from fellow panelists and the general public. Based on a transcript, she requested whether or not the juror had “biases or private views” that will forestall him from being “truthful and neutral,” whether or not he might decide information topic to her rationalization of the regulation and whether or not he might seek the advice of with different jurors. The juror replied no to the primary query and sure to the second two.

Quickly after, the decide instructed the jurors to maintain deliberating.

Jurors wrote to the decide on Tuesday saying that they had gone by way of proof in “granular” element, however couldn’t agree on a verdict on any rely.

After the trial, the jury foreman, Richard Nardini, mentioned 10 members had been satisfied of Mr. Shea’s guilt. One had not made any choice, Mr. Nardini added, and the twelfth insisted that prosecutors had not confirmed their case, whereas elevating matters unrelated to the proof. That juror had dozed off throughout deliberations and the presentation of proof, mentioned a number of fellow jurors.

One other juror, Racquel Henry, mentioned that the twelfth juror had steered that Mr. Trump had supplied cash to the wall fund. A 3rd, Lauren Reyes, mentioned attempting to speak with the person was “extremely irritating,” including: “It was like speaking to a wall.”