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New Charges in Trump Campaign Finance Inquiry Are Unlikely, Prosecutors Signal New Charges in Trump Campaign Finance Inquiry Are Unlikely, Prosecutors Signal
(32 minutes later)
Federal prosecutors signaled in a court document released on Thursday that it was unlikely they would file additional charges in the hush-money investigation that ensnared members of Donald J. Trump’s inner circle and threatened to derail his presidency. Federal prosecutors signaled in a court document released on Thursday that it was unlikely they would file additional charges in the hush-money investigation that ensnared members of Donald J. Trump’s inner circle and threatened to derail his presidency.
In the document, the prosecutors said they had “effectively concluded” their inquiry, which centered on payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to buy the silence of two women who said they had had affairs with Mr. Trump.In the document, the prosecutors said they had “effectively concluded” their inquiry, which centered on payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to buy the silence of two women who said they had had affairs with Mr. Trump.
At the same time, other newly released documents from the investigation showed that Mr. Trump was in close touch with Michael D. Cohen, the president’s former fixer, when he was arranging the payments.
The day before paying one of the women $130,000, Mr. Cohen spoke twice on the phone with Mr. Trump, according to the documents, which said that “less than thirty minutes after speaking to Trump” Mr. Cohen took steps to open a bank account to pay the woman.
The prosecutors with the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan also revealed for the first time that they had expanded their investigation from campaign finance violations to include whether “certain individuals” lied to investigators or tried to obstruct the inquiry.The prosecutors with the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan also revealed for the first time that they had expanded their investigation from campaign finance violations to include whether “certain individuals” lied to investigators or tried to obstruct the inquiry.
The brief report did not identify the targets of those investigations, although it contained redactions of what appeared to be at least one name. That investigation has also ended, prosecutors said. The brief report did not identify the targets of those investigations, although it contained redactions of what appeared to be at least one name. That investigation has also ended, prosecutors said.
The disclosures came in a document filed with William H. Pauley III, a federal judge in Manhattan. The judge had ordered the prosecutors on Wednesday to publicly release a number of documents related to their investigation. The disclosures came in a document filed with William H. Pauley III, a federal judge in Manhattan. The judge had ordered the prosecutors on Wednesday to publicly release a number of documents related to a 2018 raid on Mr. Cohen’s home and office.
The president’s former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, was convicted in the case. He has said he helped arrange the hush money at the direction of Mr. Trump, and prosecutors have repeated the accusation in court papers. Mr. Cohen is serving a three-year prison sentence. Mr. Cohen was convicted in the case. He has said he helped arrange the hush money at the direction of Mr. Trump, and prosecutors have repeated the accusation in court papers. Mr. Cohen is serving a three-year prison sentence.
Mr. Trump has denied the affairs and any campaign finance violations.Mr. Trump has denied the affairs and any campaign finance violations.
As recently as this spring, prosecutors were still considering whether one Trump Organization executive was untruthful when testifying before the grand jury, according to people briefed on the matter.As recently as this spring, prosecutors were still considering whether one Trump Organization executive was untruthful when testifying before the grand jury, according to people briefed on the matter.
The search warrant documents shed light on the breadth of evidence the prosecutors amassed against Mr. Cohen even before searching his property and interviewing a number of witnesses. The prosecutors initially had released the documents in March, with nearly every detail of the campaign finance evidence redacted.The search warrant documents shed light on the breadth of evidence the prosecutors amassed against Mr. Cohen even before searching his property and interviewing a number of witnesses. The prosecutors initially had released the documents in March, with nearly every detail of the campaign finance evidence redacted.
The Trump Organization reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the hush money he paid to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic film actress. Mr. Cohen also urged American Media Inc., which publishes The National Enquirer, to buy the rights to a former Playboy model’s story of an affair with Mr. Trump. Both deals effectively silenced the women in the run-up to the 2016 election.The Trump Organization reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the hush money he paid to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic film actress. Mr. Cohen also urged American Media Inc., which publishes The National Enquirer, to buy the rights to a former Playboy model’s story of an affair with Mr. Trump. Both deals effectively silenced the women in the run-up to the 2016 election.