N.Y. case in opposition to Trump over hush cash to porn star goes to grand jury Monday

by

NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) – A grand jury is listening to proof in New York over former President Donald Trump’s function in hush cash funds to porn star Stormy Daniels throughout his 2016 presidential marketing campaign, two sources with information of the matter advised Reuters.

A grand jury might lay the groundwork for potential legal fees in opposition to the previous president by the Manhattan district legal professional’s workplace.

Former Nationwide Enquirer writer David Pecker testified earlier than the grand jury, one supply advised Reuters. Pecker was seen coming into the decrease Manhattan constructing the place the grand jury is empaneled, in keeping with the New York Instances, which first reported on the grand jury on Monday. Pecker couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

The writer had supplied to assist Trump by shopping for rights to unflattering tales and by no means publishing them.

The strikes are a sign that the district legal professional, Alvin Bragg, is nearer to a choice on whether or not to cost Trump.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts throughout a marketing campaign cease to unveil his management crew, on the South Carolina State Home in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Bragg’s workplace declined to touch upon the Instances report.

Daniels mentioned she had a sexual liaison with Trump and obtained $130,000 earlier than the 2016 presidential election in alternate for not discussing her encounter with Trump, who denies it occurred and in 2018 advised reporters he knew nothing a few cost to Daniels.

Trump’s former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to 3 years in jail in federal court docket in New York for orchestrating hush funds to Daniels and one other lady, former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal, who mentioned she had a months-long affair with Trump earlier than he took workplace.

McDougal has mentioned she offered her story for $150,000 to American Media Inc (AMI), but it surely was by no means revealed. The incident concerned a observe often known as “catch and kill” to forestall a doubtlessly damaging article from being revealed.

Pecker, AMI’s former chief govt officer and a longtime good friend of Trump and Cohen, advised prosecutors of their hush-money offers with McDougal and Daniels earlier than the 2016 U.S. election gained by Trump, the Wall Avenue Journal reported in 2018.

Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Doina Chiacu; Enhancing by Jonathan Oatis

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.

Leave a Comment