Trump Indictment Expected Soon: Sources

NYPD, Secret Service planning for what will happen if one is handed down
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 21, 2023 1:13 AM CDT
Updated Mar 21, 2023 6:30 AM CDT
Trump Indictment Expected Soon: Sources
Members of the news media, protesters and New York State Court Officers are at the front steps of 80 Centre Street on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York City, where a grand jury is investigating former President Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star.   (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

The New York grand jury investigating Donald Trump's "hush money" payment to Stormy Daniels did not hand down an indictment Monday, but one is expected soon, three sources tell Politico. The grand jury next convenes Wednesday. In anticipation of the expected indictment, officials from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the Manhattan DA's office, and the court met Monday afternoon. "We’ll be discussing how we bring Trump in,” one source told Politico ahead of the meeting. “No decisions have been made yet.” The AP notes that Monday's testimony from Trump ally Bob Costello is another sign that the grand jury is close to finishing its work; the Trump-friendly testimony was arranged "presumably so prosecutors could ensure the panel had a chance to consider any testimony that could be remotely seen as exculpatory," per the AP.

Indeed, law enforcement officials finalizing any preparation for potential unrest in the wake of a possible indictment could be the final step of the process before the grand jury wraps up, the AP notes, though it's also possible more witnesses could be called. Costello appeared to cast doubt on the prosecution's star witness, former Trump Organization lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen ("If they want to go after Donald Trump and they have solid evidence, then so be it," Costello said. "But Michael Cohen is far from solid evidence.") Cohen, meanwhile, made himself available Monday to rebut Costello if needed, but he was not called to do so, CNBC reports. Meanwhile, Trump's 2024 fundraising team was taking advantage of the situation: "If media leaks are correct, this could be the last time I write to you before a possible indictment comes down," reads a fundraising email attributed to Trump that was sent to supporters Monday. (More Donald Trump stories.)

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