Sara Murray says Donald Trump's acquittal in hush money trial is 'the worst case scenario' for Democrats

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Democrats would likely be in for the "worst-case scenario" if a jury in former president Donald Trump's criminal trial this week in New York found him not guilty, a CNN reporter said on Sunday, May 26. 

"I think that it's very likely this is the only trial that we are going to get before Election Day. And this case is not a slam dunk, which means that Donald Trump may very well not be convicted. Acquitted is the worst-case scenario for Democrats," CNN political correspondent Sara Murray said, as per Fox News. 

The jury will hear closing arguments in Donald Trump's hush money trial on May 28

The jury will hear closing arguments on Tuesday, May 28, in the criminal trial where Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Murray predicted that an acquittal prior to November's election could increase Trump's chances of defeating President Biden in the close contest.

"Donald Trump gets to go out there and say, 'Joe Biden's prosecutors,' which, again, not true, 'came after me, his Department of Justice came after me, and they still didn't convict me. I'm still innocent,'" Murray continued, adding "I also think you could end up somewhere in this sort of muddy middle where you end up with a hung jury, a jury that cannot reach a verdict. And then this truly does just get kicked to the voters to decide."

Legal analysts on MSNBC think Donald Trump would be found guilty

However, legal experts on MSNBC were almost sure that the New York jury would find Trump guilty. Anti-Trump attorney George Conway claimed that the evidence was so overwhelming against the former president that it would be difficult for the jury not to convict.

"I don’t think they can get an acquittal. I don’t think they’re going to get 12 votes unanimously to acquit him," Conway told MSNBC’s Katie Phang on Saturday, May 25. "I think their best shot, and that’s what they’re going to do, is hope that there’s just some person on the jury who refuses to convict," Conway added.

Former US Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal also argued the prosecution had a "common sense" case against the former president and predicted that it was highly likely he would be convicted. "I suspect that it’s going to be successful," he told host Jen Psaki on her Sunday's MSNBC show.

Donald Trump's hush money scandal

The case is based on the hush money payment that adult film actress Stormy Daniels received in 2016 from Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen regarding her alleged 2006 affair. Trump has maintained his innocence and entered not guilty pleas to all of the charges. Additionally, he has denied having an affair with Daniels.

The prosecution has tried to prove Trump authorized the payments and covered them up as part of a scheme to save his 2016 election hopes.

Democratic and Republican pollsters on the outcome of the criminal trial

According to Fox News, Democratic and Republican pollsters claimed a conviction or acquittal wasn't likely to make any difference with voters because Americans' beliefs about the two candidates are baked in.

A recent Quinnipiac University survey found that 62% of registered voters said they would not change their vote for president in the event of a guilty verdict. Twenty-one percent said it would make them less likely to vote for the former president while 15 percent said it would increase their likelihood of supporting Trump.

"It sounds like it's a kangaroo court, actually," Brad, from Clovis, California said, adding "I think it's a total farce. If it's not thrown out, I'd be shocked." 

Internet voices strong support for Donald Trump ahead of the closing arguments

Netizens showed strong strong support for the former president before the closing arguments. One X user wrote, "I think he will be acquitted. And win the election narrowly," while another tweeted, "Toss that garbage case, disbar the judge and DA!" "In the eyes of America he’s already innocent of this sham accusation," added one user. 

"Trump will certainly be acquitted, the eye of the world is on this case," opined another while a user penned, "These people are broken. You can hate Donald Trump all you want but no one should be hoping for a conviction in this case. Merchan's blatant disregard for the rule of law should be what every American is upset about." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.