A lawyer allied with Donald Trump is expected to do so he will testify before a New York grand jury on Mondaygiving the former president a vicarious opportunity to argue that he shouldn’t face criminal charges for money paid to silence incriminating information during his 2016 election campaign.
Robert Costello was called to testify by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office after saying he had information that raised doubts about the credibility of Michael Cohena key witness in the investigation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who insisted that his name not be used when discussing secret legal proceedings.
His testimony will come two days after Trump said he expected to be indicted on criminal charges and urged his supporters to protest for his possible arrest. In a series of social media posts over the weekend, the former Republican president criticized the New York probe and had particularly hostile words for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.
It wasn’t clear whether Costello’s testimony could change the course of a grand jury investigation that appears to be nearing completion.
Costello briefly acted as Cohen’s legal counsel after the FBI raided Cohen’s home and apartment in 2018. At the time, Cohen was under investigation for both tax evasion and payments he helped make in 2016. to buy the silence of two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump.
For several months, it was unclear whether Cohen, a longtime lawyer and Trump Organization agent who once boasted he would “take a bullet” for his boss, would remain loyal to the president.
Eventually Cohen settled to plead guilty in relation to payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, who, according to him, they were ordered by Trump. He has been highly critical of Trump ever since, testifying before Congress and then before a grand jury in Manhattan.
Trump, who denied having sex with either woman, he labeled Cohen a liar. Costello broke up with Cohen before he pleaded guilty, after it became clear he was no longer on Trump’s side.
Over the next several years, Costello, a seasoned New York attorney, represented Trump allies, including his former political strategist Steve Bannon and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment Sunday.
Source: AP
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.