New York prosecutors investigating Donald Trump heard from former porn star Stormy Daniels on Wednesday as part of their investigation to decide whether to charge the ex-president with suspected bribery, according to the actress’ lawyer.
This case could see Donald Trump, 76, who has also been targeted in other court cases, becoming the first former American president to be criminally indicted. This could complicate his race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
The actress’ attorney, Clark Brewster, tweeted that his client had met with prosecutors at the request of the Manhattan Attorney’s Office.
“Stormy answered questions and agreed to make himself available as a witness or for further investigation if necessary,” he said.
The actress, who claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump, then tweeted thanking her attorney for his support and “our ongoing fight for truth and justice.”
The investigation focuses on the $130,000 payment in 2016 by Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels – whose real name is Stephanie Clifford – to buy his silence on this alleged relationship.
The payment came two weeks before the presidential election, which Republican won against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The affair broke out in 2018 when Stormy Daniels claimed to have had sex with Donald Trump a dozen years ago.
Michael Cohen, who has become one of Mr. Trump’s worst enemies, testified before a grand jury Monday in the investigation into a non-disclosure agreement.
The former attorney had been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty, specifically for staging that payment in violation of campaign finance laws. He asserted that he was acting at the express request of the Republican candidate, who would have compensated him upon his arrival at the White House.
Donald Trump has denied any connection to Stormy Daniels. He himself had been asked to testify before the grand jury, the New York Times and Washington Post reported earlier this month, but will likely decline. This invitation is a possible sign of the prosecutor’s willingness to prosecute him.
According to The New York Times, Donald Trump could be charged with a misrepresentation offense to cover up the payment to Stormy Daniels.
These allegations could become more serious and criminal in nature if prosecutors believe the crime was intended to cover up a violation of campaign finance rules, the New York Times said.
Following the two newspapers’ revelations, Donald Trump last week on his network Truth Social denounced a “political witch hunt aimed at bringing down the front runner (and him) of the Republican Party” in the presidential primary in 2024.
“I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels,” added Mr. Trump.
Donald Trump has come under attack on other issues, including his role in his supporters’ attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as the management of his presidential archives.
In Georgia (South), a prosecutor is investigating his efforts with his allies to change the results of the lost 2020 presidential election, and a grand jury has recommended a number of indictments.