Judge in Manafort trial says he's 'received threats' and had 'no idea' the case would be this controversial

Paul Manafort's trial is coming to an end with some curious new developments.

Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, is facing 18 charges of tax evasion, money laundering, and bank fraud. The jury has been deliberating since yesterday, after the prosecution made its case for two weeks and the defense decided not to call any witnesses. But the judge overseeing the trial, T.S. Ellis, emphasized Friday that those jurors will remain anonymous through the entire process, telling reporters he'd "received threats" and didn't want the jury to experience the same.

BuzzFeed News reports that Ellis denied a request to release the names of the jurors, saying "in a case of this notoriety," publicizing the names would cause people to "be scared." He said that he has been living with "the [U.S. Marshals'] protection at all times, they go where I go. I don't even go to the hotel alone," but added that he was surprised by the threats. "I had no idea this case would excite these emotions, I will tell you frankly," he said.

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While Ellis said in the morning that he expected the jury to announce a verdict by the end of the day, it appears the jurors are not pleased to have given up their summer Friday hours. Jurors reportedly sent a note to the judge that said they want to leave no later than 5 p.m., and Manafort's attorney told Fox News that the jury wanted to wrap things up as early as possible.

Trump on Friday defended Manafort as a "good person," calling the trial "very sad." He declined to answer a question about whether he would offer Manafort a pardon if he is convicted.