Former President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to seek a mistrial after a Facebook post on the court's page claimed advanced knowledge of the jury's verdict in his hush money trial. The post, written by someone who identified themselves as a relative of a juror, stated that Trump was going to be convicted. The revelation prompted Trump to proclaim "MISTRIAL!!!" on his Truth Social platform.

Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the case in New York, informed both prosecutors and Trump's legal team about the existence of the Facebook post in a letter on Friday. The individual behind the post, identified as Michael Anderson, described himself on his account as a "professional s--- poster," a term referring to someone who purposefully makes provocative claims online. However, the comment and the account have since been deleted, making it difficult to independently verify its legitimacy.

The online post in question came just a day before Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records by a unanimous jury verdict. This significant outcome marked the first time a former president has been criminally convicted.

Although Trump is currently under a gag order that prevents him from attacking the jury or witnesses, his lawyers are working to have this order lifted. It is unclear whether Trump's inability to comment more extensively on the matter is related to the gag order. The former president had previously voiced his dissatisfaction with the order during the trial.

Supporters of Trump wasted no time in using the Facebook post as additional evidence to bolster the argument that his trial was "rigged" against him. Figures such as Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Republican senator Mike Lee suggested that the post further undermined the legitimacy of the trial.

While most sections of the media treat the Facebook post with skepticism, Trump's legal team may push for an investigation. This could involve Justice Merchan individually questioning each juror to determine whether outside influence or a violation of the order not to discuss deliberations occurred. If such an investigation were to occur, the date of Trump's sentencing, originally scheduled for July 11, could be pushed back.

The Trump campaign has reportedly stated that they are "investigating the matter," although no further details have been provided at this time. Meanwhile, legal experts caution that there is a significant difference between the Facebook post and any potential impact on the case itself.

At a recent rally in Arizona, Trump continued to assert that his trial was an act of political persecution by President Joe Biden. He called on appellate courts to intervene to rectify what he perceives as injustice, warning that the future of the nation is at stake.

As the legal proceedings surrounding Trump's hush money trial unfold, the question of whether a mistrial will be declared remains a pivotal point of contention.