Robert “Bob” Costello was once a legal advisor to Michael Cohen and has indicated to NBC News that he will testify on Monday before the Manhattan grand juries considering the case of former President Donald Trump.
According to someone with direct knowledge, Trump’s lawyers asked the District Attorney Costello to testify in the case concerning a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, during 2016.
The The New York Times first reported the news.
Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer, pleaded guilty to making illegal payments to Daniels in federal court in 2018. He testified before the grand jury last week. He also met with prosecutors over 20 times.
Cohen claimed that Trump ordered him to pay the money for the “principal goal of influencing” 2016 presidential election. According to Cohen, NBC News reported that he would be returning to the office of the district attorney Monday to testify as a rebuttal witness.
Cohen’s testimony may be contradicted by the expected witness. Costello said to NBC News that he had never signed a retainer agreement. Costello also stated that Cohen had waived attorney client privilege in 2019, a shocking revelation for attorneys.
Cohen said that Costello had never represented Cohen.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman declined to comment.
To investigate the payment to Daniels, the grand jury was convened by the district attorney’s office. Daniels claims that she slept with Trump prior to his election. Trump denied any wrongdoing, and claimed he never had an affair with Daniel. He did admit that Cohen paid him $130,000. This payment he claimed was legal.
Tacopina stated this month that Trump’s lawyers have “no intentions” to meet the district attorney’s offices. Last week, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina stated that the Trump would not appear before the grand jury.
NBC News reported that the law enforcement agencies could be indicted against Trump as soon as next week. Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social Saturday to predict that he would face arrest Tuesday and called for protestors to take action.
This investigation is independent of the Justice Department’s investigation into Trump’s Jan. 6 Capitol Attack and his handling classified documents. Special counsel Jack Smith oversees this probe.
