NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Grand jurors were set to reconvene Monday in the Manhattan D.A.’s “hush money” investigation of Donald Trump after the D.A. called off two sessions last week for unknown reasons. The grand jury is expected to hear from another witness this week as the probe shows signs of winding down. At a Texas rally over the weekend, Trump slammed the investigation as politically motivated, something the D.A.’s office has denied.
MONDAY, MARCH 27
4:35 p.m. - Ex- National Enquirer CEO David Pecker testifies to grand jury
A pivotal figure in the hush money payment investigation of Donald Trump was seen Monday leaving the Manhattan building where a grand jury has been meeting for months, though there was still no word on when the panel might vote on a possible indictment of the former president.
David Pecker, a longtime Trump friend and the former chief executive of the parent company of the National Enquirer, was also seen weeks ago at the same building, suggesting that his testimony could be key as prosecutors continue to push toward potential criminal charges of the ex-president.
Pecker is seen as relevant to the investigation because his company, American Media Inc., secretly assisted Trump’s campaign by paying $150,000 to McDougal for the rights to her story about an alleged affair with Trump. The company then suppressed McDougal’s story until after the election, a dubious journalism practice known as “catch-and-kill.”
3:15 p.m. - Witness expected to testify before grand jury: report
A witness is expected to speak before the Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump's "hush money" payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on Monday, NBC News reported.
The appearance comes a week after the last witness, ex-federal prosecutor Robert Costello, testified to the grand jury about his interactions with Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Exactly who is making the appearance remains unclear at this time. Grand jury proceedings are secret.
2:45 p.m. - Trump argues probes into him 'election interference'
Former President Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social Monday that "ELECTION INTERFERENCE THROUGH PROSECUTORS IS THE NEW 'BALLOT STUFFING' FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY!!!"
He again attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in another post, claiming that "everyone is waiting to hear from a local George Soros backed D.A" about whether "he is going to 'criminally indict' me for NO CRIME."
In addition, he claimed that "every prosecutor" and the Federal Election Commission "passed" on charging him for these payments.
11:30 a.m. - NYC grand jury reconvenes in Trump case
The Manhattan grand jury returned to work Monday to hear more evidence in the Trump "hush money" investigation, though there's still been no word on when it might be asked to vote on a possible indictment.
It was the first time the panel was hearing testimony in the Trump probe since last Monday, when a witness favorable to the ex-president appeared before the grand jury. The jurors did not meet at all on Wednesday, one of the days when they ordinarily convene, and heard other matters on Thursday.
The grand jury is now back on Trump, a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press. It was not immediately clear whether an additional witness might be called before the panel.
Trump raised anticipation that criminal charges were imminent with a March 18 post on his social media platform in which he said he expected to be arrested last Tuesday. He has since used the absence of an indictment to claim, furnishing no evidence, that the investigation is somehow faltering.
11 a.m. - NYC grand jury to get back to work Monday in Trump case
The panel of 23 men and women reviewing the Manhattan D.A.’s “hush money” investigation of Donald Trump will resume its work Monday, sources said. If or when they end up voting, they’d need 12 votes to make a decision on whether to indict the former president.
Security will continue to be tight in the courthouse area in Lower Manhattan, as well as outside Trump Tower in Midtown, after the NYPD and other agencies met last week to hash out plans for any potential protests or unrest.
Mayor Eric Adams told PIX11 on Sunday: “We are always ready. The NYPD does an amazing job of just really dealing with any type of incident that takes place in the city. And there’s a lot of speculation. I think D.A. Bragg is going to make the final determination. We have not heard ‘yay’ or ‘nay.’ We’re just going to be ready no matter what happens.”
After his rally in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Trump returned Sunday night to his Truth Social platform, where he accused the Justice Department, without evidence, of “running” the local investigation by the Manhattan D.A.
The former president also lashed out at porn star Stormy Daniels, who he’s alleged to have paid “hush money” before the 2016 presidential election. The circumstances surrounding that payment are the subject of the Manhattan D.A.’s probe.
“I won a Federal lawsuit for almost $500,000 against Stormy ‘Horseface’ Danials,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Never had an ‘affair’ with her, and would never have wanted to!”
Early last Friday on the social platform, Trump warned of “potential death and destruction” if he’s indicted.
Later that day, an envelope containing what was later deemed to be non-hazardous white powder was sent to the Manhattan D.A.’s office along with a death threat against D.A. Alvin Bragg.
Rev. Al Sharpton held a prayer vigil in Harlem over the weekend for Bragg.
“I am very concerned about the climate that has been sent around the family and life of our district attorney, Alvin Bragg,” Sharpton said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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