As the jury deliberated in the bank and tax fraud trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump called the trial "very sad" and described the defendant as a "very good person."
The federal court trial in Alexandria, Virginia is the first stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 15-month-old investigation of Russia's role in the 2016 US presidential election.
The charges largely predate Mr Manafort's five months working on Mr Trump's campaign during a pivotal period in the 2016 presidential race, including three months as campaign chairman.
Mr Manafort, 69, faces five counts of filing false tax returns, four counts of failing to disclose his offshore bank accounts and nine counts of bank fraud. If convicted on all counts, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Prosecutors accused him of hiding from US tax authorities $16 million in money he earned as a political consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine to fund an opulent lifestyle and then lying to banks to secure $20 million in loans after his Ukrainian income dried up and he needed cash.
US District Judge TS Ellis, who is presiding over the case, said he personally had received threats related to the trial and was being protected by US marshals.
The judge also rejected a motion by some news organisations to make public the names of the jurors, saying he was concerned about the jury's "peace and safety."
"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions ... I don't feel right if I release their names," the judge said.
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On Friday afternoon the jury of six men and six women sent the judge a note asking that they be permitted to finish their work for the day because one juror had a social engagement.
They will meet for their third day of deliberations on Monday.
In remarks to reporters at the White House, President Trump again called Mr Mueller's investigation, which had cast a cloud over his presidency, a "rigged witch hunt," but side stepped a question about whether he would issue a presidential pardon for Mr Manafort.
"I think the whole Manafort trial is very sad, when you look at what's going on there. I think it's a very sad day for our country," Mr Trump said.
"He worked for me for a very short period of time. But you know what? He happens to be a very good person. And I think it's very sad what they've done to Paul Manafort."
Jurors in the trial are not sequestered but have been instructed not to watch news reports or talk to others about the matter.
It is unusual for a US president to make comments about the character of a defendant in an ongoing trial and criticize the legal proceedings. But it was not the first time Trump has weighed in since the Manafort trial began on 31 July.
On the first day the jury heard testimony, Mr Trump said Mr Manafort had been treated worse than 1920s gangster Al Capone.
President Trump has made previous comments criticising various federal judges and courts and has been harshly critical of Mr Mueller. On Friday, he accused Mr Mueller of having "a lot of conflicts," but said the special counsel should be allowed to finish a report on Russia's role in the 2016 election.
As president, Mr Trump has the power to pardon Mr Manafort on the federal charges. He has already issued a number of pardons, including for a political ally, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. Asked by a reporter on Friday if he would pardon Mr Manafort, Trump said, "I don't talk about that now."
