Donald Trump faces an impending reckoning in New York.

In New York, Donald Trump, once hailed as the bold embodiment of power, now finds himself stripped of the ability to shape his own destiny.

On Wednesday, twelve citizens from his hometown of New York City will hold sway over his reputation, future, and perhaps even the trajectory of the White House. This trial marks a significant moment, demonstrating that not even former presidents, potentially on the path to return, are immune to the reach of the law.

Following instructions from Judge Juan Merchan, seven men and five women jurors will enter deliberations in Trump’s six-week hush money trial. Their task is unprecedented in American legal history: to determine the fate of a former president and presumptive major party nominee facing 34 felony charges. While bound to base their decision solely on the testimony and evidence presented, their verdict will resonate nationally and globally, especially amidst the critical juncture of the 2024 presidential election.

The trial’s conclusion on Tuesday saw nearly ten hours of impassioned closing arguments, marked by open hostility between opposing counsel. Prosecution lawyer Joshua Steinglass urged the jury to remain focused amidst the distractions, emphasizing the importance of evidence and logical inference.

“In the interest of justice and on behalf of the people of the state of New York,” Steinglass implored, “I ask you to find the defendant guilty. Thank you.”

Accusing the ex-president of “a conspiracy and a cover-up,” prosecutors allege Trump's betrayal of 2016 voters through illegal falsification of financial records to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump denies any affair with Daniels and pleads not guilty in this first of four impending criminal cases. To convict him, jurors must conclude that he knowingly falsified financial documents with the intent of committing another crime.

Throughout the proceedings, the ex-president observed quietly yet intently, following days of vehement verbal attacks directed at the judge, prosecutors, and the legal system.