Are the investigations into Donald Trump coming to an end?
Hope Hicks, former Trump campaign staffer, meets Manhattan DAs.
New York (USA) - She was considered a confidante of Donald Trump in the 2016 election campaign, when Trump first ran for president, and was probably responsible for damage control on a number of issues: Hope Hicks, former campaign staff member and later Trump's communications chief.
According to the
New York Times
, she spoke Monday to Manhattan prosecutors investigating whether Trump was involved in paying hush money to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels and covering it up.
Daniels had said he had an affair with Trump and received $130,000 from Michael D. Cohen, Trump's attorney.
Trump had recently no longer denied the affair with Daniels.
According to
the New York Times
, it is not yet clear whether charges will be filed at all, and a conviction is far from certain.
Nevertheless, Trump would face up to four years in prison if he were convicted in this case.
And a conviction would have consequences for US politics: the ex-president does not seem to rule out running for the US presidency again.
Donald Trump and the hush money: Hope Hicks is already the seventh witness
Hicks was the seventh witness to be interviewed in the case.
The New York Times
sees this
as evidence that the prosecutor's investigation is nearing its end.
Accordingly, Hicks phoned Trump or lawyer Cohen at crucial times of the hush money payments - and could probably provide the public prosecutor with important insights.
In addition to Hicks, a lawyer for Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) has already testified, as well as two other Donald Trump employees, among other witnesses.
In Hicks' case, however, it's unclear whether she was testifying before the grand jury or just answering questions from prosecutors.
Ultimately, the grand jury of citizens decides whether to indict or not.
Investigations and indictments against Donald Trump: This is the status
Donald Trump is facing several investigations and charges: In civil charges in connection with the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, he is not generally protected by his then immunity as head of state.
The US Department of Justice came to this conclusion in early March.
Both Trump and incumbent US President Joe Biden also found government documents classified as secret after their respective terms as President and Vice President in premises where they should not have been kept.
In both cases, independent special investigators are investigating.
In the investigation into possible unlawful interference in the 2020 presidential election in the US state of Georgia by Donald Trump's camp, the responsible grand jury wants to recommend the indictment of several people.
Chief juror Emily Kohrs said this to several US media on Tuesday.
However, she did not name any names and thus left open whether ex-President Trump was threatened with indictment.
(dpa/kat)