President Trump’s defense team asked the judge, presiding over his hush-money trial, Juan Merchan, to dismiss the case based on “grave juror misconduct,” according to a letter the attorneys sent to the judge in early December, which was made public on Tuesday.

“We write regarding evidence of grave juror misconduct during the trial, which further illustrates the manifest unfairness of these proceedings and serves as yet another reason that the verdicts in this case cannot stand,” a letter written by the two defense attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, states. The specific allegations of the “extensive and pervasive misconduct” appeared to have been redacted.

The letter was sent to Judge Merchan on December 3 but was only made public on Tuesday, after the judge addressed the matter in his own letter sent to the attorneys on Monday, as the Sun reported. 

“Turning next to Defendant’s letter of December 3, 2024, alleging juror misconduct.” Judge Merchan wrote on Monday. “Allegations of juror misconduct should be thoroughly investigated. However, this Court is prohibited from deciding such claims on the basis of mere hearsay and conjecture,” Judge Merchan ruled. “This Court cannot allow the public filing of unsworn, and admittedly contested statements. To do so would threaten the safety of the jurors and violate the agreed upon Order Regulating Disclosure of Juror Information.”