The Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels "hush money" case is set to take a month-long break, according to an insider. The planned recess, which coincides with the city school system's week-long Spring Recess in April, was pre-scheduled. However, court sources warned that the schedule could change, but mentioned the break would last at least through the Passover and Easter holidays.
This development delays any potential indictment of Trump, 76, regarding the $130,000 payment made by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. The payment was intended to silence Daniels about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
On March 18, Trump claimed on social media that he expected to be arrested three days later and called on his followers to protest and "TAKE OUR NATION BACK!" While the arrest did not occur, Trump's statement led to a significant increase in donations to his 2024 Republican presidential primary campaign and a surge in the polls. RealClearPolitics website data shows Trump now leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential rival, by an average of 15.1 percentage points.
Trump also caused controversy with a now-deleted social media post threatening "death and destruction" if charged, displaying images of him aiming a baseball bat at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's head. Trump's defense lawyer, Joe Tacopina, later characterized the post as "ill-advised" and explained that it was promptly removed upon Trump's realization of the attached rhetoric and photo.
On Monday, the grand jury heard testimony from former National Enquirer publisher and longtime Trump associate David Pecker, who had previously met with Cohen in August 2015 to offer assistance in suppressing stories about Trump's alleged extramarital affairs. Trump has denied both the affair with Daniels and any wrongdoing related to the payment.
Pecker's testimony, a follow-up to his initial appearance in late January, was requested by Bragg to counter the March 20 testimony of attorney and Trump ally Robert Costello. After his appearance, Costello claimed he "really stirred up those grand jurors." Sources informed The Post that Bragg was concerned by Costello's testimony, though the DA's office denied this.
Bragg is reportedly contemplating charges against Trump for falsifying business records to conceal a federal campaign finance rules violation. This untested legal theory could result in a felony conviction punishable by up to four years in state prison.
Although the grand jury is set to convene on Thursday, sources have confirmed that the Trump case will not be on the agenda.
