(New York) New York prosecutors investigating Donald Trump heard from former porn star Stormy Daniels on Wednesday, as part of their investigation to decide whether to indict the ex-president on suspicion of bribing him. -of wine, according to the lawyer of the actress.
This file could lead to Donald Trump, 76, also targeted in other court cases, to become the first former American president to be criminally charged. This could complicate his race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.
The actress’ attorney, Clark Brewster, tweeted that his client met with prosecutors at the request of the Manhattan prosecutor’s office.
“Stormy answered questions and agreed to make himself available as a witness or for further investigation if needed,” he said.
The actress, who claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump, later thanked her attorney in a tweet for his support and “our continuing fight for truth and justice.”
The investigation focuses on the payment in 2016 of $ 130,000 by Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, to Stormy Daniels – real name Stephanie Clifford – to buy his silence on this alleged relationship.
The payment took place two weeks before the presidential election, won by the Republican against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The affair broke out in 2018 when Stormy Daniels claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Donald Trump a dozen years ago.
Michael Cohen, who has become one of Trump’s arch-enemies, testified Monday before a grand jury in the nondisclosure agreement investigation.
The former lawyer had been sentenced, after pleading guilty, to three years in prison in particular for having orchestrated this payment in violation of the laws on the financing of electoral campaigns. He assured that he acted at the express request of the Republican candidate, who would have reimbursed him once he arrived at the White House.
Donald Trump has denied any connection with Stormy Daniels. He himself has been asked to testify before the grand jury, the New York Times and Washington Post reported earlier this month, but is expected to decline. This invitation is a possible sign of the willingness of prosecutors to prosecute him.
According to The New York Times, Donald Trump could be charged with misdemeanor accounting misrepresentation to conceal the payment to Stormy Daniels.
These charges could escalate and become criminal if prosecutors believe the offense was intended to cover up a violation of campaign finance rules, the New York Times also explained.
After the revelations of the two newspapers, Donald Trump had denounced last week on his Truth Social network a “political witch hunt aimed at bringing down the candidate in the lead, (and this) by far, of the Republican Party” in the primary for the presidential election in 2024.
“I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels,” Trump added.
Donald Trump is targeted in other cases, including his role in the assault on the Capitol by his supporters 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 presidential election in 2020 and a grand jury has recommended a series of indictments.