The Manhattan grand jury investigating the alleged "hush money" payment made by former President Donald Trump reconvened on Monday, hearing testimony from a crucial witness, David Pecker, as confirmed by two sources, CBS news reported. Pecker, the ex-CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI) and publisher of The National Enquirer, was seen entering the building where the grand jury convened.
In the run-up to the 2016 election, Pecker acted as a liaison between Stormy Daniels' attorney and Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. Daniels, an adult film actress, claimed to have had an affair with Trump. Cohen eventually arranged a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for $130,000. In August 2016, AMI purchased the rights to a similar story but never published it, later admitting the "catch and kill" tactic was employed to help Trump's campaign.
The grand jury last met on March 20, hearing testimony from attorney Robert Costello at the behest of Trump's legal team. Trump, currently running for president again, denies any wrongdoing and has dismissed the affair allegations.
Despite Trump's earlier prediction that he would be arrested on March 22, no arrest occurred. Heightened law enforcement presence has been observed around the Manhattan Criminal Court and district attorney's offices.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently received a threatening letter, prompting 177 former federal prosecutors to sign a statement condemning intimidation attempts and supporting the rule of law.
The grand jury's potential indictment vote remains unknown. Trump's invitation to appear before the grand jury often indicates that prosecutors are close to making an indictment decision. The probe appears centered on whether the payment to Daniels constituted falsification of business records and violation of state campaign finance law.
The Manhattan case is among at least four criminal investigations involving Trump, including probes in Fulton County, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the investigations are part of a "witch hunt."
