Pointers at Glance
- The Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in paying hush money to a porn star has concluded its work for the week without indicating a potential indictment.
- The grand jury has heard testimony from most of the people involved in the hush-money probe payment, including David Pecker, former CEO of American Media Inc., who made his second appearance before the grand jury on Monday.
Sources with knowledge of the matter have reported that the Manhattan grand jury, which is probing former President Donald Trump’s alleged role in making hush money payments to a pornographic actress, has wrapped up its work for the week.
Manhattan Grand Jury’s Work On Trump Hush-Money Probe Continues Without Indictment
The grand jury is not expected to meet on Wednesday, which is usually when it hears evidence related to Trump, and any work it does on Thursday is expected to be on other cases. It is unclear whether the grand jury will consider the Trump matter next week.
The panel last heard witness testimony on Monday, but there is no indication that the grand jury has voted on a potential indictment of Mr Trump. The manhattan grand jury, run by prosecutors and operates in secret, has been investigating the payment made in the 2016 election and its aftermath.
The manhattan grand jury has heard testimony from most people involved in the hush-money probe payment. On Monday, David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, appeared before the grand jury for the second time. Pecker was one of the initial witnesses to testify before the grand jury when it was convened in January.
Pecker Was Questioned Twice By Manhattan Grand Jury
Mr Pecker was chief executive of American Media Inc. in August 2016 when the company bought the story of a former Playboy centrefold who alleged an affair with Mr Trump. The goal was to tie up the rights to the story, taking it off the market and averting any negative press for Mr Trump as he campaigned for president, Mr Pecker and American Media later admitted in a 2018 nonprosecution agreement with the US attorney’s office in Manhattan.
The manhattan grand jury’s schedule has been in flux, and the timing of its meetings is not always set in stone. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office controls the panel’s pace and can change the schedule. It is unclear whether the district attorney’s office plans to call new witnesses or ask any witnesses to return. Prosecutors invited Mr Trump to testify before the grand jury earlier this month, but he declined the offer.
Trump’s Lawyer Declined To Comment On The Matter
Mr Trump’s lawyer declined to comment on the matter. The former president, vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has denied the affairs and said on his social-media network that he is “an innocent man, a former very successful President who is now running and leading in the polls.” It remains to be seen when any potential charges against Mr Trump will be announced.
