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The four-count, 45-page indictment charges Republican Trump with conspiring to defraud the U.S. by preventing Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory and to deprive voters of their right to a fair election. The charges stem from Special Counsel Jack Smith's sprawling investigation into allegations Trump sought to reverse his loss to Biden. "President Trump will not be deterred by disgraceful and unprecedented political targeting!" [1/5]Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 29, 2023. Tuesday's charges represent a second round of federal charges by Smith, who was appointed special counsel in November by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden's, Mike Pence, Tanya Chutkan, Barack Obama, Jack Smith's, Biden, Weeks, Smith, Trump's, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Pence, Lindsay DeDario, Giuliani, Robert Costello, Eastman, Charles Burnham, Clark, General Merrick Garland, Stormy Daniels, Kevin McCarthy, Ron DeSantis, Fani Willis, Garland, Jacqueline Thomsen, Sarah N, Lynch, Rami Ayyub, Andrew Goudsward, Luc Cohen, Jack Queen, Kanishka Singh, Dan Whitcomb, Costas Pitas, Mike Scarcella, Tim Reid, Jeff Mason, Gram Slattery, Joseph Ax, Scott Malone, Will Dunham, Howard Goller, Grant McCool, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, ., Trump, Congress, Justice, REUTERS, Reuters, Presidential, TRUMP, REPUBLICAN, Republicans, Democratic, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: American, Washington, U.S, Washington ,, Nazi Germany, Georgia, Erie , Pennsylvania, Miami, Manhattan's, Florida, Fulton County, The Hague, Kosovo, New York

1: RUDY GIULIANIThe former New York City mayor and Trump's former personal attorney has faced legal issues since working on Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He also played a prominent public role in pushing theories of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. He believed there was proof of election fraud, and I have seen the affidavits that back that up." Powell has since been sued for defamation by the voting companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic over false claims she made about them rigging the 2020 election against Trump. 4: JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARKJeffrey Clark is a former high-ranking Justice Department official who has been under investigation by federal prosecutors for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Persons: John Eastman, Donald Trump's, Rudy Giuliani, Read, Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Trump, RUDY GIULIANI, Giuliani, Robert Costello, JOHN EASTMAN John Eastman, Mike Pence, Joe Biden, Eastman, John Eastman's, Charles Burnham, SIDNEY POWELL Sidney Powell, Powell, “, JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK Jeffrey Clark, Clark, Jeffrey Rosen, Rosen, Clark's, Rich Donoghue, KENNETH CHESEBRO Kenneth Chesebro, Biden, Pence, Cheseboro, Jacqueline Thomsen, Sarah N, Lynch, Andrew Goudsward, Mike Scarcella, Michael Perry Organizations: Chapman University, Trump, U.S, Congress, New, New York City, Capitol, D.C, Reuters, Electoral, NBC, Voting Systems, Department, Justice Department, Prosecutors, ”, Trump's, Thomson Locations: U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, Washington, Georgia, California, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Andrew Goudsward Middletown, N.J, Silver

☆ Donald Trump says he’s a target of special counsel’s criminal probe into 2020 election aftermath
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Katelyn Polantz Jeremy Herb Kristen Holmes Kaitlan Collins Paula Reid | Katelyn Polantz | Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In the classified documents case, Trump received a target letter from the special counsel’s office on May 19. Three days after that, on June 8, the grand jury returned an indictment against Trump and his co-defendant and aide Walt Nauta. The special counsel has also probed Trump’s knowledge that he lost the 2020 election, pressure within the Justice Department to help with efforts to overturn the election and fundraising efforts after the election. Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, told CNN that Giuliani has not received a target letter. The grand jury investigating 2020 election interference is meeting Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Joe Biden’s, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, Smith, Trump . Trump’s, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Walt Nauta, Fox News ’ Sean Hannity, Mike Pence, Rudy Giuliani, Robert Costello, Giuliani Organizations: CNN, Joe Biden’s DOJ, Sunday, Trump, Trump ., Manhattan, Attorney, Justice, Fox News, “, United, Constitution, Joe, Electoral College, Justice Department, House Locations: Bedminster, Iowa, Washington , DC

☆ Trump ally Steve Bannon ordered to pay $480,000 for unpaid legal bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A judge ordered former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon to pay a New York law firm $480,487 in unpaid legal bills. The judge noted that Davidoff Hutcher had been paid $375,000 for work for Bannon before he stopped paying the firm. "Clearly someone affiliated with defendant was getting these invoices and defendant admits he instructed his team to pay plaintiff," Bluth wrote. Bannon "cannot receive the benefit of plaintiff's legal representation and then insist he need not for it," the judge wrote. Bannon's former lawyer, Davidoff Hutcher partner Robert Costello, told CNBC that if Bannon "appeals, of course, the meter is running" on the unpaid fees he owes the firm.

Persons: Steve Bannon, Arlene Bluth, Davidoff Hutcher, Citron, Bannon, Davidoff Hutcher's, Bluth, Bannon's, Harlan Protass, Bannon —, Donald Trump, Davidoff, Robert Costello Organizations: White House, Financial, House, Trump White House, New, CNBC, D.C, Capitol Locations: Washington ,, New York, Manhattan, U.S, Mexico, Washington

☆ 2020 election interference probe: New glimpses into investigation suggest peril could be growing for Trump and his associates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Revelations that special counsel Jack Smith has been digging into efforts to overturn former President Donald Trump’s Arizona election loss in 2020 bolster growing indications that his investigation is nearing a critical point. Smith has already made Trump the first former president to be formally accused of federal crimes. But a flurry of details about Smith’s inquiries into alleged election-stealing efforts suggest his investigators have had an industrious summer. He said he talked about a call that he had with Trump and Giuliani after the election, and a second call just from Trump. Prosecutors were also set to talk to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, CNN reported in June.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump’s, Smith, Trump, pushback, Rusty Bowers –, –, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Rudy Giuliani, He’s, specter, it’s, Bowers, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Giuliani, Smith’s, Adrian Fontes, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Brad Raffensperger, Robert Costello, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, Patrick Byrne Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Arizona House, FBI, GOP, Capitol, Arizona Republican, Arizona Republic, Arizona’s, Prosecutors Locations: Donald Trump’s Arizona, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Washington, Manhattan, Trump, Nevada, York

☆ Trump Oval Office meeting: Special counsel prosecutors question witnesses about chaotic December 2020 meeting in election probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Kaitlan Collins Zachary Cohen Paula Reid Sara Murray Katelyn Polantz | Kaitlan Collins | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Multiple sources told CNN that investigators have asked several witnesses before the grand jury and during interviews about the meeting, which happened about six weeks after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. Some witnesses were asked about the meeting months ago, while several others have faced questions about it more recently, including Rudy Giuliani. Prosecutors have specifically inquired about three outside Trump advisers who participated in the meeting: former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, one-time national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, sources said. They also discussed naming Powell as special counsel to investigate supposed voter fraud, and Trump invoking martial law as part of his efforts to overturn the election. The December 14 date is of particular interest to prosecutors, sources told CNN.

Persons: Jack Smith’s, Trump, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, Patrick Byrne, Byrne, Jack Smith, ”, Robert Costello, Powell, Flynn, Robert O’Brien, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Pence Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Twitter, West Wing, White House, Electoral College Locations: Washington ,

☆ Rudy Giuliani met special counsel prosecutors probing Trump over 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Attorney for the President, Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media at a press conference held in the back parking lot of landscaping company on November 7, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rudy Giuliani, a former top lawyer for Donald Trump, met in recent weeks with federal prosecutors who are investigating the ex-president for his efforts to reverse his loss in the 2020 election, NBC News confirmed Wednesday. Trump, in an early January 2021 phone call, unsuccessfully pressured Raffensperger to "find" him enough votes in Georgia to overturn Biden's victory in that state. The joint session was interrupted for hours by a mob of Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol. Ted Goodman, a spokesman for Giuliani, said the former New York mayor met with Smith's prosecutors along with his own attorney Robert Costello in recent weeks, NBC News reported.

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Giuliani, Joe Biden's, Jack Smith's, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Biden, Trump, Ted Goodman, Robert Costello, Goodman, Costello, Fani Willis, Smith, Walt Nauta Organizations: NBC News, Wednesday, Georgia, Trump, Electoral College, U.S . Capitol, New, CNN, CNBC, White Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, New York, Fulton County, Florida, Lago, Palm Beach , Florida

☆ New York prosecutors are investigating Trump's hush-money payment to the ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NY prosecutors are looking into Trump's hush-money payment to Karen McDougal, WSJ reported. Prosecutors have been investigating if Trump broke the law when Michael Cohen paid off Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Investigators have long been probing a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The Manhattan grand jury was empaneled in January, but activity related to the Trump investigation appears to have slowed in the past two weeks. Cohen — thought to be one of the final prosecutor witnesses — finished his grand jury testimony on March 15.

A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump on felony charges. In a statement, Trump characterized the criminal charges from a grand jury as a political attack. The indictment's specific contents have not yet been made public, even to the defense team, as is common in state criminal cases. The district attorney's office subsequently brought David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, to testify for a second time in front of the grand jury. That post was quickly taken down; Trump attorney Joe Tacopina called it "ill-advised" and said "one of his social media people" put it up.

Former prosecutors previously told Insider that the district attorney does have the power to slow-walk the indictment and that the grand jury may have already voted. The grand jury investigation has already taken longer than expected. After Cohen's testimony, Bragg's office extended an offer for Trump to testify, indicating it was nearly finished presenting evidence to the grand jury. Trump's attorneys sent Robert Costello, an attorney who told grand jurors on March 20 that Cohen was a liar and couldn't be trusted. Since then, the grand jury has moved in fits and starts.

NEW YORK, March 28 (Reuters) - The New York grand jury hearing evidence about former President Donald Trump's role in a hush-money payment to a porn star is not expected to meet on Wednesday and is unlikely to consider the case again this week, a law enforcement source said. It is unclear when the grand jury would take up the matter again, said the source, who was granted anonymity to discuss secret grand jury proceedings. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has been presenting evidence since January to the grand jury about possible crimes related to a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has denied an affair took place, and lawyer Robert Costello, who met with Cohen in 2018, has said Cohen told him he acted alone. Costello testified before the grand jury last week.

March 27 (Reuters) - A former National Enquirer publisher testified on Monday before a Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence about former President Donald Trump's role in a hush-money payment to a porn star, said a person familiar with the matter. The grand jury's proceedings are shrouded in secrecy and the timing of a grand jury vote is unclear. [1/8] An officer from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Canine Unit checks outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., March 27, 2023. Costello testified before the grand jury last week. Trump faces several other criminal investigations, including one tied to the Jan. 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol.

☆ Trump 'hush money' grand jury back to work Monday after week-long hiatus: sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Manhattan grand jury will be back Monday afternoon on the Trump 'hush-money' case, sources tell Insider. It is unknown if the secret grand jury will hear from additional witnesses or is nearing a vote. It's unclear whether the grand jury, which meets in the afternoon, will hear additional witnesses Monday, or if they are nearing a vote. The grand jury last met on Monday, March 20, when it heard testimony by a rebuttal witness at the request of Trump's defense team. The grand jury is believed to have heard from two former Trump advisors, Hope Hicks, and Kellyanne Conway, who may have knowledge of the payment from their time on the 2016 campaign.

☆ Trump ally and ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Monday before the NY hush-money grand jury
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | El Calabrese | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

David Pecker testified Monday before the Trump hush-money grand jury in Manhattan. The ex-publisher was one of the first witnesses to testify before the grand jury, and he is expected to be among its last. The grand jury did not meet the rest of last week. Trump was reportedly in the room in 2015 when Cohen discussed hush-money payments with Pecker. The grand jury is expected to reconvene on the hush-money matter Wednesday afternoon.

REUTERS/Eduardo MunozMarch 27 (Reuters) - A Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence about former President Donald Trump's role in a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels was expected to reconvene on Monday, a law enforcement source said. The grand jury, which has been meeting since January, could indict Trump over the handling of the payment, which would make him the first U.S. president to face a criminal charge in court. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been presenting evidence about the $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has said he made the payment at Trump's direction to buy her silence about a sexual liaison she says she had with Trump in 2006. Trump faces several other criminal investigations, including one tied to the Jan. 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol.

☆ Why is the Trump 'hush-money' grand jury taking so @#$%& long? Wrong question, experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

An uncanny lack of secrecy surrounds the secret Trump 'hush money' grand jury now underway in NY. Grand jury witnesses, lawyers, and Trump himself are shouting about each other on TV and online. The right question may be, "Why is this supposedly secret grand jury such a honking, spotlit spectacle?" On Friday, an envelope of white powder was sent to Bragg at the office building where the grand jury sits. The grand jury was not there that day, and the powder proved non-hazardous.

☆ Trump 'hush-money' grand jury will not hear case for the rest of this week: source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump's Manhattan 'hush-money' grand jury will not consider the case this week. The grand jury has not heard evidence in the case since Monday, when a surprise witness testified. But the panel will meet in connection with a different case — not the Trump hush-money matter, the source said early Thursday. The grand jury has not met to consider the hush-money matter since then. Prosecutors are statutorily barred from discussing grand jury proceedings.

☆ Trump grand jury will not hear 'hush-money' case for the rest of this week: source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump's Manhattan 'hush-money' grand jury will not consider the case this week. The grand jury has not heard evidence in the case since Monday, when a surprise witness testified. But the panel will meet in connection with a different case — not the Trump hush-money matter, the source said early Thursday. The grand jury has not met to consider the hush-money matter since then. "But a special grand jury can be impaneled to hear more than one case," he added.

But members of the grand jury were told to stay home on Wednesday, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret grand jury proceedings. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office has been investigating $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Security was high around the courthouse where the grand jury has been meeting, with court officers out early and barricades up around the building. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a witness, lawyer Robert Costello, who said that Cohen acted on his own. Cohen has publicly said that Trump directed him to make the payments and has appeared twice before the grand jury.

NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - A New York grand jury was expected on Wednesday to resume its closed-door investigation of whether Donald Trump made illegal hush-money payments to a porn star, which could yield the first-ever criminal charges against any U.S. president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office has been investigating $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen has said he made the payments at Trump's direction to buy her silence about Trump's extramarital affair. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a witness, lawyer Robert Costello, who said that Cohen acted on his own. Cohen has publicly said that Trump directed him to make the payments and has appeared twice before the grand jury.

NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - - A New York grand jury is expected on Wednesday to resume its closed-door investigation of whether Donald Trump made illegal hush-money payments to a porn star, which could yield first-ever criminal charges against any U.S. president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office has been investigating $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of Trump's 2016 election campaign. Trump has denied the affair took place, and others in his orbit have said Cohen acted on his own. On Monday, the grand jury heard from a witness, lawyer Robert Costello, who said that Cohen acted on his own. Cohen has publicly said that Trump directed him to make the payments and has appeared twice before the grand jury.

☆ Trump indictment grand jury not 'likely' to meet Thursday either after Manhattan DA paused Stormy Daniels case Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Manhattan grand jury meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the Trump 'hush-money' case. Wednesday's grand jury session was canceled, Insider first reported. 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. But Wednesday'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. Prosecutors are barred from divulging grand jury details; Bragg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Exclusive: Trump 'hush money' grand jury called off for Wednesday, delaying possible indictment vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Manhattan grand jury meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the Trump 'hush-money' case. Wednesday's grand jury session has been canceled, high-ranking law enforcement sources tell Insider. 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. The reason for the pause could be unrelated to the grand jury's investigation. Prosecutors are barred from divulging grand jury details; Bragg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Trump Grand Jury Hears From Likely Final Witness on Hush-Money Payment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Corinne Ramey | Joe Palazzolo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Robert Costello on Monday after testifying before a grand jury investigating Donald Trump. The Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s role in a hush-money payment to a porn star heard Monday from what is likely to be its last witness, while law-enforcement officials planned for a potential indictment of the former president as soon as this week. Robert Costello, a partner in the New York office of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP and former federal prosecutor, appeared before the grand jury at the request of Mr. Trump’s lawyers. Mr. Costello in 2018 advised Michael Cohen , a former Trump lawyer and key witness in the hush-money probe, while Mr. Cohen was facing federal scrutiny for multiple offenses.

☆ Trump is 'going about business as usual' and enjoying higher polling on the day he claimed he'd be arrested, his lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Donald Trump said he would be arrested on Tuesday. Trump is "going about business as usual" and enjoying rising poll numbers, his lawyer said. A Secret Service officer stands in front of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Florida. Alina Habba, an attorney for Donald Trump, arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. AP Photo/Bryan WoolstonOn Truth Social, Trump spent Monday and Tuesday bragging about his poll numbers and criticizing Bragg.

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