Donald Trump’s attempts to deflect from his involvement in the payoff of porn star Stormy Daniels may have hit a snag after two key parties in the investigation cooperated with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office today.
Former Trump attorney, Michael Cohen, testified before the grand jury on Wednesday, while Stormy Daniels herself spoke with state prosecutors.
Daniels’ legal counsel was optimistic about his client’s meeting with Manhattan DA Alan Bragg’s team.
“At the request of the Manhattan DA’s office Stormy Daniels and I met with prosecutors today,” attorney Clark Brewster tweeted. “Stormy responded to questions and has agreed to make herself available as a witness, or for further inquiry if needed.”
“Thank you to my amazing attorney (who also always spells my name correctly) for helping me in our continuing fight for truth and justice,” Daniels responded.
Thank you to my amazing attorney (who also always spells my name correctly 🤣) for helping me in our continuing fight for truth and justice. https://t.co/rvie0qBHVs
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 15, 2023
The adult actress received $130,000 in hush money from intermediaries working on Trump’s behalf to keep his 2016 presidential hopes alive.
Longtime Trump ally and legal advisor Michael Cohen has testified at least 20 times before the Manhattan grand jury — and his most recent testimony may be the nail in the ex-President’s legal accountability coffin.
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“Cohen’s cooperation in the investigation, and his imminent testimony, was seen as a final step in building a potential case against Trump,” according to USA Today.“
After serving federal time for fulfilling his role as “The Donald’s” fixer, the former attorney apparently has zero feelings left to give for his former friend and boss.
In a press conference outside of the courtroom, Cohen said that after testifying for hours, nearly every juror had questions for one of the prosecutor’s star witnesses.
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According to former federal prosecutor Harry Litmann, that’s an important occurrence.
During an interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, Litman called the jury “extremely active.”
“I’ve been in grand juries that maybe two, three, four people asked questions. If literally, everyone did, that’s up to 23. That is a very very focused and cohesive because they’re all sharing in the questioning.”
Cohen didn’t go into the details of his testimony but managed to take a shot at Trump’s new legal counsel, Joe Tacopina.
Tacopina’s recent appearance with MSNBC’s Ari Melber went about as well as to be expected given the former President’s past choices of legal counsel.
An attorney by trade, Melber refused to play Tacopina’s deflection game – holding the defense attorney’s feet to the fire with no water in sight.
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“I was actually embarrassed for our profession. he looked completely unhinged,” Cohen said of Tacopina’s interview.
“When you go out and you make yourself the center of attention at least know the facts,” he added.
"The attacks that Trump keeps making against adult film star Stormy Daniels, like calling her "horseface," Cohen said "just detracts from him. It makes him look again, worse than he actually looks. Which is hard to believe." https://t.co/RoBGZVCTmJ
— The Ghost of GC 🌻 (@gtconway3dg) March 15, 2023
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office offered the former president an opportunity to testify personally before the grand jury.
It was an invitation that was soundly rejected by Tacopina.
“He’s not going to testify,” the attorney said, claiming his client is a victim of “extortion.”
“Ninety-nine percent of targets in grand jury proceedings choose not to. He’s not going to participate in the proceeding that me and most election law experts think is without total merit.”
There’s been speculation that state prosecutors are moving closer to a recommendation of an indictment, whether or not the special grand jury takes the district attorney’s office advice remains to be seen.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
