The Trump grand jury in New York is expected to take a month off

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas.

Evan Vucci | AP

The New York grand jury being used for a criminal investigation of former President Donald Trump is not expected to hear evidence for next month, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

The panel is hearing testimony about a $130,000 hush-hush payment made by then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

The reported standoff at the Manhattan courthouse will delay any potential indictment of Trump from this grand jury until late April.

However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg can summon the grand jury at any time, so it’s possible there will be action on the case before then.

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The panel began hearing testimony in late January. On Monday, the grand jury heard from David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, who was involved in efforts to suppress unsavory stories about Trump.

Trump incorrectly predicted he would be arrested in the investigation last week.

The investigation focused on business records reflecting Trump’s payment to Cohen for compensation to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The Trump Organization listed that reimbursement as “legal expenses.”

Under New York law, falsifying business records is a misdemeanor. But that can be a felony if the false statement is made to cover up another crime.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance crimes, one of which was related to paying Daniels to keep quiet about her alleged sexual tryst with Trump in 2006 to avoid claims that hurt his chances of winning the 2016 election.

The other campaign finance crime involved Cohen facilitating the payment of $150,000 in hush money. The Enquirer’s parent company paid Playboy model Karen McDougal in 2016 to prevent her from speaking publicly about an alleged affair she had with Trump.

Trump has denied having sex with Daniels or McDougal.

He claims DA Bragg’s investigation was designed to hurt him politically.

Bragg is a Democrat. Trump is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

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