Topic: Business Records

In the Manhattan criminal trial of Donald Trump, the jury began deliberations after receiving instructions from Judge Juan Merchan. Legal experts highlight a controversial instruction stating that jurors do not have to agree unanimously on the specific underlying crime Trump was allegedly trying to hide. This "abnormal" legal standard is a major point of contention for the defense, which maintains that no crime was committed.

Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall have hinted at a "secret" interpretation of the Patriot Act that the public has not seen. The concern focuses on the business records provision, which allows the FBI to seize tangible items deemed relevant to security investigations. The extension of these powers was slipped into a small business bill (S-990) to expedite passage.