Trump indictment grand jury not 'likely' to meet Thursday either after Manhattan DA paused
Last edited Wed Mar 22, 2023, 07:04 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Business Insider
The Manhattan 'hush-money' grand jury, after being told by prosecutors not to come in on Wednesday, is not 'likely' to meet Thursday either, law enforcement sources told Insider. Wednesday's cancellation came on the brink of a possible historic indictment vote of former President Donald Trump. The grand jury has been meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to hear evidence of Trump's alleged role in approving a 2016 election-eve payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, money that federal prosecutors have called an illegal campaign expenditure.
Star prosecution witness Michael Cohen had told reporters as recently as last week that he had expected to be the grand jury's final witness. Had that remained the plan, Cohen's testimony, which concluded last Wednesday, would have been quickly followed by deliberations and a vote. But Wednesday's pause in the grand jury's activity especially if the panel indeed takes the rest of this week off will likely delay the process into next week.
Grand juries convene in secret, and prosecutors are statutorily barred from discussing what they do. This week's pause came after unexpected testimony Monday by Robert Costello, who was allowed to address the grand jurors at the defense's request. Costello, who previously served as Cohen's legal advisor, said at a press conference Monday that he attacked his former client's credibility during his testimony.
Cohen had just spent two days of testimony walking grand jurors through the chronology of Trump's involvement in the payment. It is nclear why District Attorney Alvin Bragg hit pause on a grand jury that has been hearing evidence against Trump since mid-January. The reason for the pause could be unrelated to the grand jury's investigation. It is also possible that prosecutors are executing a shift in strategy.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-indictment-hush-money-grand-jury-cancelled-wednesday-sources-2023-3
Article updated.
Full headline: Trump indictment grand jury not 'likely' to meet Thursday either after Manhattan DA paused Stormy Daniels case Wednesday
Original article and headline -
The Manhattan 'hush-money' grand jury has been told not to come in on Wednesday, a cancellation that comes on the brink of a possible historic indictment vote of former President Donald Trump, according to two law enforcement officers.
And while nothing beyond Wednesday is set in stone, it is unlikely that the grand jury will meet at all this week, said one of the law enforcement sources, who spoke to Insider on condition of anonymity.
The grand jury has been meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to hear evidence of Trump's alleged role in approving a 2016 election-eve payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, money that federal prosecutors have called an illegal campaign expenditure. Star prosecution witness Michael Cohen had told reporters as recently as last week that he had expected to be the grand jury's final witness.
Had that remained the plan, Cohen's testimony, which concluded last Wednesday, would have been quickly followed by deliberation and a vote. But today's pause in the grand jury's activity especially if the panel does take the rest of this week off will likely delay the process into next week.
Note the update is in contradiction to NBC News' assertion that the grand jury was going to reconvene Thursday but we shall see.
machoneman
(3,997 posts)often have very limited finances and can't afford to stay away from home for very long.
Joinfortmill
(14,387 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,164 posts)pwb
(11,246 posts).
Traildogbob
(8,674 posts)Can not afford to park in New York for more than an hour. Imagine days, and the cost of Motel 6 or food in NY. And the rats aint gonna share pizza scraps.
But this is a Buzz killer for today. How many years!!!!!!
MayReasonRule
(1,460 posts)Fridays had generally been one of the single most productive work days in my week and I absolutely adore Fridays, 'cause I'm "working for the weekend".
So I just made every day Friday.
Result: My overall productivity and enjoyment of life increased exponentially. I attribute that to embracing what I love, (Fridays), and making them a larger part of my life.
Added bonus: I'm always correct at least one time per week, lol.
Laissez bon temp rouler!
Traildogbob
(8,674 posts)I am 10 years retired. It terrifies me that every time I blink my eyes, its freaking Friday again. The weeks and months fly by. Thinking I need a horrible job to slow down the time. Its almost April 1 and like yesterday was mid January.
I retired in spring 2012. And since 2016, I am pissed off way too much. Thats gotta end. But it will take trump and his cult being reduced to a Jimmy Swaggert TV show.
Your advice is very wise.
Time to reintroduce Mary and Jane again maybe. (NC will still imprison you, but Moonshine is served in churches as the blood of Christ)
And we have more Micro brewerys than most of US. (WNC).
Cheers to you.
MayReasonRule
(1,460 posts)My personal rules for my life:
I embrace what I love.
I start with myself.
I leave the rest.
As I've done those things:
I eat well.
I sleep well.
I stay well
... and happy Friday y'all!
calimary
(81,110 posts)Its Wednesday already! Whered the week go, already?
Remember that old one-liner: dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope!
Traildogbob
(8,674 posts)MayReasonRule
(1,460 posts)calimary
(81,110 posts)Or is that - those were the daze?
OMGWTF
(3,941 posts)kacekwl
(7,013 posts)defense team will have to get at least a year to prepare then blah, blah, blah.
EmmaLee E
(169 posts)I refuse to get excited about possibilities anymore.
bluestarone
(16,859 posts)What the fuck kinda message does that send? I just hope it's called off for other reasons. BUT we may never know!
Marthe48
(16,898 posts)unit. May as well be productive and keep my own life on track.
I was thinking about it, and traitor's announcement about his arrest is an abuser's sadistic ploy.
getagrip_already
(14,618 posts)Conflict of interest charges were raised, and a judge may need to remove him and have tfg appoint a replacement.
Though it's unclear why that would impact the gj. It would impact surrender planning.
barbtries
(28,769 posts)it's starting to feel like theater. WTF?!
republianmushroom
(13,475 posts)jgo
(903 posts)jgo
(903 posts)Won three Grammy awards - who knew?
THAT takes me back!
Paper Roses
(7,471 posts)Bird Lady
(1,815 posts)Another disappointing day. I was looking forward to that perp walk but as the last three years have been just one disappointment after another. I'll put the popcorn and champagne away in the hope it will happen in my lifetime.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)This gives the asshole more time to practice his perp walk (which I hear he wants to do, because
martyrdom), practice his mugshot smile, and get spray tan touchups.
Weve waited this long
are we surprised at one more delay? I trust Bragg here.
BumRushDaShow
(128,441 posts)Link to tweet
@MuellerSheWrote
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BREAKING: the Manhattan DA is leaving the door open for one witness to come back and testify. That might be the reason for the delay.
Acyn
@Acyn
Reid: Sources say that prosecutors have been in touch with an attorney for at least one witness, and they signal that they're leaving the door open for that witness to potentially come back..
Embedded video
12:49 PM · Mar 22, 2023
Link to tweet
@wallerABC7
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Were now learning the Trump grand jury in Manhattan is no longer meeting today, possibly due to a scheduling conflict. Who knows for sure? Grand juries are secret. Theyre now set to come back Thursday, per @ABC7NYNewsDesk
12:16 PM · Mar 22, 2023
FredGarvin
(469 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,441 posts)Grand jury told not to come in today
Jonathan Dienst, Melissa Russo and Rebecca Shabad
The New York grand jury that's been investigating the hush money case and is expected to soon consider an indictment of Trump has been told not to come in today, NBC News confirmed.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office told the members that they should be on standby for tomorrow, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Business Insider was the first to report the delay.
(snip)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-news-ny-grand-jury-indictment-live-updates-rcna76028#rcrd11504
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,441 posts)who could come back and reiterate a connection of this payment "to influence the election" as a rebuttal to whatever Costello said Monday (which could make it a stronger case for a felony vs misdemeanor charge of misrepresenting business entries).
FredGarvin
(469 posts)Novara
(5,821 posts)There's some speculation that the impending charges may be for more than the hush money crime.
We can hope.
FredGarvin
(469 posts)For years.
Novara
(5,821 posts)Some experts think there may be more than just the hush money case in this potential indictment. If Bragg and the GJ take their time and come out with a whopper, it will be worth waiting a few more days.
I hope.
elleng
(130,732 posts)I've thought/assumed the several matters/grand juries working now were not coordinating with each other, I'm wondering now whether they (or Bragg, at least) is thinking about benefits to everyone if one considering a major issue, like in Georgia, precedes others.
BumRushDaShow
(128,441 posts)not pointing to GA but to the classified docs case, notably Marcy Wheeler -
Link to tweet
@emptywheel
·
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I'll pee my pants laughing if the NY GJ delay results in the stolen docs case indicting first after all the hand-wringing about order.
12:08 PM · Mar 22, 2023
Link to tweet
·
Mar 22, 2023
@emptywheel
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Replying to @emptywheel
Folks, on the NY GJ, it seems likely that Robert Costello didn't present the case they expected--that Trump thinks all he has to do is discredit Cohen and he wins.
emptywheel
@emptywheel
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So it may be Bragg realized there was a better rebuttal witness than Cohen, like one of the people who testified how important the hush payment was to the campaign. And THAT witness may not have been available on 1 day's notice.
12:16 PM · Mar 22, 2023
elleng
(130,732 posts)Happy Hoosier
(7,216 posts)Call me cynical. I'm beginning to believe no one has the guts to hold this muthafucker accountable for a damned thing.
2naSalit
(86,323 posts)Just spit-balling, the revelation from Stormy Daniels that the mob-style attorney for chump should have to recuse which might present chump with a little time to figure out who his next useful idiot will be.
If so...
I wonder when he'll have to ask Tiffany to represent him?
LudwigPastorius
(9,104 posts)How many business days is that?
CaptainTruth
(6,576 posts)From the article:
"The grand jury has been meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays"
"Michael Cohen had told reporters as recently as last week that he had expected to be the grand jury's final witness."
"Cohen's testimony, which concluded last Wednesday, would have been quickly followed by deliberation and a vote"
So, if Cohen's Wednesday testimony was "quickly followed by deliberation and a vote," the grand jury could have deliberated & voted when they met Thursday, & it's done.
Did it happen? Given the facts in the article it's apparently possible. Do we know it didn't happen?
Sucha NastyWoman
(2,741 posts)We only met one week out of every month. Maybe this is different?
BumRushDaShow
(128,441 posts)and he indicated that his jury met once a month for about a year.
I think I saw for this state grand jury, they were meeting twice a week - Mondays and Wednesdays. From what has been reported, supposedly Bragg told them after cancelling today's regular session, to "standby" as they might be called to come in tomorrow instead.
orangecrush
(19,409 posts)WTF
WTF
WTF
Jarqui
(10,122 posts)Costello came in and the Grand Jury was interested in 6 emails (that I think he sent).
That bothered Costello. He was hoping for more.
Trump's modus operandi has been to mess with the process.
I think this case must be more than falsifying campaign financial records.
Some have raised witness tampering - which would align with the emails to Cohen that said something to the effect of 'you have friends in high places ..'
So if there's another witness required, it might be to deal with Costello and the obstruction/tampering.
That flies a little in the face of Trump lawyer Tacopino trying to fluff it off as merely an extortion payment so Melania wouldn't find out. That may have rattled Costello who planned on discrediting Cohen to scuttle the falsifying campaign records charge ... Costello would have to know something else was up and seemed to during his exit interview. He didn't get to say what he planned to say.
I think that bodes well for Bragg.
Bragg's career is effectively on the line here.
There seems to be something more than a misdemeanor being inflated to a felony going on here - which will provide further justification for Bragg's actions and shut a bunch of people up.
The additional day might also be for Bragg to collect his thoughts on presenting his final remarks or questions to the Grand Jury.
RussBLib
(9,003 posts)They probably need to have the Grand Jury meet in a different location, since Trumpanzees are calling in bomb threats.
Emile
(22,480 posts)That's my suggestion.