Michael Cohen to testify in Trump investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s former lawyer and repairman is set to testify Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating alleged bribes paid on behalf of the former president, two officials told The Associated Press. people familiar with the situation. anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the process publicly.

Cohen is a key witness in the investigation of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and his testimony comes at a key time as prosecutors prepare to decide whether to bring charges against Trump. In some cases, the prosecution keeps the most important witnesses until the final 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, saying he would take a period of “quiet time to allow the prosecution to build their case.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which has so far declined to comment on the investigation, also declined to say whether Cohen would testify before the grand jury.

Trump continued to lash out at the investigation on social media on Friday, calling the case “a scam, an injustice, a mockery, and a full and total use of law enforcement to affect an election.” presidential!”

Prosecutors appear to be investigating whether Trump committed any wrongdoing in organizing the payments, or how they were accounted for internally at his company, the Trump Organization. A possible charge would be falsifying business records, a misdemeanor unless prosecutors can prove it was done to cover up another crime.

No former US president has ever been charged with a crime.