Donald Trump’s former lawyer is scheduled to testify Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating alleged bribe payments made on the former president’s behalf, they told Associated Press two people familiar with the situation.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the process.
Cohen is a key witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation, and his testimony comes at an important time as prosecutors prepare to decide whether to bring charges against Trump. In some cases, the prosecution keeps the most important witnesses until the last stages of the investigative process.
In recent weeks, Cohen has met regularly with Manhattan prosecutors, including a lengthy session Friday to prepare for his appearance before the grand jury, which has been hearing evidence on the matter since January.
Cohen declined to comment to reporters after the meeting and indicated that he would take a period of “quiet time to allow the prosecution to build their case.”
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which has declined to comment on the investigation for now, also declined to say whether Cohen would testify before the grand jury.
Trump again criticized the investigation on social networks on Friday, calling the case “Scam, injustice, mockery and a complete and total use of law enforcement to affect a presidential election!”
Prosecutors appear to be investigating whether Trump committed wrongdoing in arranging the payments, or how they were accounted for internally at his company, the Trump Organization. One possible charge would be falsifying business records, a misdemeanor unless prosecutors can prove they were done to cover up another crime.
No former US president has ever been charged with any crime.
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