Former President Donald Trump faces possible criminal charges in New York relating to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The adult film star claims she had an affair with him beginning in 2006. Trump maintains he has committed no crime and never had an affair with Daniels. He has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of being motivated by politics and has attacked him in escalating rhetoric. The case is focused on allegations that Trump falsified business records. Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, testified before the grand jury last week. The Associated Press has the story:
Trump probe: Manhattan jury is back to work
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP)
The Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump over hush money payments returned on Monday to hear more evidence, with still no word on when it might be asked to vote on a possible indictment.
It was the first time the panel was hearing testimony in the Trump probe since last Monday, when a witness favorable to the ex-president appeared before the grand jury. The jurors did not meet at all on Wednesday, one of the days when they ordinarily convene, and heard other matters on Thursday.
The grand jury is now back on Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secretive proceedings. It was not immediately clear whether an additional witness might be called before the panel.
Trump raised anticipation that criminal charges were imminent with a March 18 post on his social media platform in which he said he expected to be arrested last Tuesday. He has since used the absence of an indictment to claim, furnishing no evidence, that the investigation is somehow faltering.
The Republican former president has also escalated his rhetoric, warning that “potential death & destruction” would accompany any indictment. He also posted a photo of himself holding a baseball bat next to a picture of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. On Thursday, Trump referred to Bragg, Manhattan’s first Black D.A., as an “animal.”
