What do you bet Merchan or his handlers invented the jury leak so Trump could “get off on a technicality,” rather than have his convictions reversed on appeal? Something they knew was going to happen if they let the convictions stand. They can read the legal analysis from every legal pundit out there that said Trump was denied constitutional rights and a proper trial throughout.
That way they still get to say he was convicted - for whatever PR value that might mean to them. Guess tying him up in court for weeks is the best they could hope for.