- The Manhattan Attorney’s Office is investigating Trump’s role in the illegal act of paying hush money to Stormy Daniels in 2016.
- Prosecutors have offered Trump an opportunity to testify before a grand jury next week, according to The New York Times.
- Such invitations are rarely accepted, but they do indicate that a grand jury may be nearing an indictment vote.
Manhattan prosecutors recently had the opportunity to testify against former President Donald Trump before a New York grand jury investigating his role in money paid to silence adult film actresses on the eve of the 2016 election. provided the The New York Times reported.
A lawyer for Trump did not immediately respond to an insider’s request for comment.
In a statement to ABC News’ John Santucci, a Trump spokesperson said: “The Manhattan District Attorney’s threat to indict President Trump is absolutely insane. For the past five years, the DA’s The office has been witch-hunting and investigating every aspect of President Trump’s life, and they’ve come to nothing at every turn — and now this. The fact that the DA is even considering new political attacks is a clear indulgence for President Trump in every area. President Trump has been a victim. It’s an embarrassment to the city.”
Four people familiar with the case told The New York Times that Mr. Trump has been invited to testify next week.
Insiders have independently confirmed that Trump is the target of a grand jury, which is reviewing evidence of a low-level felony charge of falsifying business records in connection with payments.
A grand jury has heard evidence since January about Trump’s involvement in a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who threatened to release details of his alleged relationship with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.
The pace of the investigation intensified this week.
On Monday, Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary and later White House communications director, Hope Hicks, met with prosecutors.
On Tuesday, Michael Cohen, who brokered the hush program as Trump’s former attorney, met with prosecutors. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for several crimes, including tax law violations and acting as a “back man” for payments that federal prosecutors deemed illegal campaign contributions.
On Wednesday, Kellyanne Conway, who managed Trump’s 2016 campaign and became a trusted White House adviser, met with prosecutors.
Both Conway and Hicks had first-hand knowledge of Trump’s involvement in the payment, which federal prosecutors said contained a check signed by the then-President directly compensating Cohen for forwarding the money to Daniels’ attorneys. Stated.
The standard is to provide the subject of a grand jury the opportunity to testify voluntarily. These invitations are rarely accepted.
Trump’s unintentional participation is even less likely. That would mean issuing him a subpoena, which would come with immunity.