[ad_1]
Monday was the first time in a week that a grand jury heard evidence in the Trump case. The panel was adjourned Wednesday and considered unrelated issues on Thursday.
Bragg’s investigation, facilitated by former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, centers on a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels. According to federal prosecutors, at the time Pecker was a tabloid publisher, the Adult Her Enquirer claimed to have an affair with Trump and pitched her story to the National Her Enquirer. Instead, Cohen paid Daniels directly. He said in court that it was a step he took “in coordination with Trump and at Trump’s direction.”
Mr Trump has denied wrongdoing in the incident and payments.
Pecker previously testified before a Manhattan grand jury hearing the Trump investigation, according to people familiar with the matter. It was not clear why he was recalled to provide further testimony. In front of the publisher, the grand jury heard from Cohen’s former legal counsel, Robert Costello, a key prosecution witness in the case.
At a press conference after his testimony, Costello said he tried to discredit Cohen while speaking to the grand jury.
A Manhattan DA spokeswoman declined to comment.
[ad_2]
Source link
