NYC grand jury hears final witnesses in Donald Trump investigation

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NEW YORK (AP) A grand jury is hearing from the final witnesses Monday in the investigation into Donald Trump’s law enforcement officials has ramped up security preparations ahead of a possible indictment and as fellow Republicans set positions in a criminal investigation expected to complicate the 2024 presidential race .

Robert Costello, a lawyer who has clashed with the star government witness in the Trump investigation, arrived Monday afternoon at the building where the grand jury is meeting after being invited to appear before the panel. Her testimony is expected to give the former president an indirect chance to make a case that he should not face criminal charges over hush money paid to a porn star during his 2016 campaign.

Costello was asked to appear before the Manhattan district attorney’s office after he said he had information that raised questions about the credibility of Michael Cohen, a key witness in the investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter who insisted he was not introduce themselves to discuss secret legal proceedings.

Costello’s appearance is another indication that prosecutors are moving to wrap up their investigation, with grand jurors likely being offered the chance to consider any testimony or evidence favorable to Trump that could weaken the case for in the furtherance of an indictment. It’s unclear whether Costellos’ testimony has the potential to change the course of the grand jury investigation that appears to be nearing a conclusion.

Cohen’s attorney said his client is available for another appearance but no one is needed.

READ MORE: Trump’s calls for protests fail to gain traction ahead of expected indictment

The testimony comes two days after Trump said he expected to face criminal charges and supporters protested the possible arrest. In a series of social media posts over the weekend, the former Republican president criticized the investigation in New York, directing particularly hostile rhetoric at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.

It’s unclear when prosecutors might finish their work, but New York law enforcement is making physical preparations for any chaos surrounding a possible indictment. In the morning, a New York Police Department truck began dropping portable metal barricades that could be used to block streets or sidewalks.

Even as the investigation in New York moves toward conclusion, Trump faces criminal investigations in Atlanta and Washington that, taken together, pose significant legal risks and bring the prospect of a Republican upending. presidential race in which Trump remains a leading contender. Some of his likely opponents have tried to strike a balance between condemning a potential prosecution as politically motivated while avoiding condoning the behavior in question.

Criticized by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a presumptive GOP presidential candidate, is investigating but has also thrown one of his first jabs at the former president in a move likely to intensify their simmering political rivalry.

I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to hush up some kind of alleged relationship,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Panama City. I can’t speak to that.

But, he added, what I can say is if you have a prosecutor who ignores the crimes that happen every day in his jurisdiction and he chooses to go back many, many years ago to try to use something about payments porn star money. , that is an example of furthering a political agenda and arming the office. And I think that is fundamentally wrong.

NEWS WRAP: Trump says he expects New York authorities to arrest him

Mike Pence, the former vice president expected to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination, blasted Trump in an interview with ABC News last weekend as reckless for his actions on Jan. 6 and said history will hold him accountable. However, he repeated the rhetoric of former presidents that an indictment is a politically motivated prosecution.

I have no doubt that President Trump knows how to take care of himself,” Pence said. And he will. But that doesn’t make it right to have a political persecution of a former president.

Costello briefly acted as a legal adviser to Cohen after the FBI raided Cohen’s home and apartment in 2018. At the time, Cohen was being investigated for both tax evasion and for payments he facilitated orchestrating in 2016 to buy the silence of two women who claimed to have had sexual relations with Trump.

For months, it was unclear whether Cohen, a longtime lawyer and fixer for the Trump Organization who once boasted he would take a bullet for his boss, would remain loyal to the president.

Cohen eventually decided to plead guilty in connection with payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, which he said were directed by Trump. Since then, he has been a vocal critic of Trump, testifying before Congress and then the Manhattan grand jury.

Trump, who has denied having sex with either woman, called Cohen a liar. Costello broke with Cohen before he pleaded guilty, after it became clear he was no longer in Trumps camp.

In the years since, Costello, a veteran New York attorney, has represented Trump allies including his former political strategist Steve Bannon and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Michelle L. Price, Aaron Morrison, Jill Colvin, Ted Shaffrey, David R. Martin, Noreen Nasir, Seth Wenig and Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.

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