The jury in Donald Trump's hush-money trial started deliberations on Wednesday, a milestone in the first criminal case against a former US president, and will continue to do so on Thursday.
The 12-member jury will have law and case instructions by Judge Juan Merchan be re-read to them when they re-convene on Thursday morning, something they had requested.
The jurors also requested that four parts of testimonies be re-read to them.
The former president is facing 34 felony charges on falsifying business records, along with his fixer Michael Cohen and with publications, to cover up payments and keep scandalous stories from becoming public during his 2016 campaign.
The alleged stories included an affair with adult film performer Stormy Daniels, who testified in the trial, and another with a former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Mr Trump has denied extramarital relationships with Daniels and McDougal. He has also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The jury heard testimony from more than 20 witnesses over five weeks.
“As a juror, you are asked to make a very important decision about another member of the community,” he said.
The six alternate jurors were ordered to stay on standby.
Jurors have to decide beyond reasonable doubt whether Mr Trump created a fraudulent entry in his company's records – or had someone else do it – and did so with the intent of covering up another crime.
They also have to decide if Mr Trump intentionally falsified business records to hide a crime to benefit his electoral campaign, which is a felony violation of a New York election law.
Any verdict to either convict or acquit him must be unanimous among the 12-member jury.
If found guilty, falsifying business records could result in up to four years in prison, although such an outcome is unlikely because imprisonment doesn't happen often for first-time offenders.
It is possible that a mistrial could occur if the jury cannot reach an unanimous verdict.
The jury was dismissed after more than four hours of deliberations on Wednesday afternoon.
This is the first court trial of any US president – sitting or former.
He did not testify, even after saying several times he wanted to.
Mr Merchan said Mr Trump and his lawyers were required to remain in the Manhattan court in New York during deliberations.
After the jury began deliberations, Mr Trump published a string of posts on his Truth Social platform.
"These charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged," he said in a post, claiming that Mother Teresa "could not beat these charges".
Mr Trump is also facing legal challenges related to allegedly trying to subvert the 2020 election results, when he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, and mishandling classified documents after his presidency ended.
The New York case is most likely to be the only one to go to trial before the November 5 presidential election, in which it is presumed he will face off with Mr Biden again.
Mr Trump has claimed that the legal cases against him are "election interference".
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
