Manhattan DA inquiry: A look at the key players in the hush money investigation that could result in Trump’s arrest

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has been investigating an alleged hush money payment made by former President Donald Trump around seven years ago. This investigation could result in an indictment against Trump. Here are the key players in the controversy.

Donald Trump recently posted on Truth Social, claiming he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest.

Stormy Daniels

The adult film star claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006 when he was 60 and she was 27. The alleged affair stayed out of the limelight until after Trump’s foray into the 2016 presidential election when former Playboy model and alleged mistress Karen McDougal tried to sell details about her affair with Trump to the National Enquirer. Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen would also get wind of the story later. Daniels stated that she was threatened by a man who warned her to stay away from Trump after she planned to discuss the affair. She met with the Manhattan prosecutors investigating the payment in 2018.

Michael Cohen

With the threat of Daniels going public, Cohen established a firm known as Essential Consultants LLC in 2016. He transferred $131,000 to that firm and later received a signed nondisclosure agreement from Daniels. Cohen sought reimbursement from the Trump Organization for $180,035, ultimately receiving $420,000 paid out over 12 months, according to court records. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including a campaign finance violation.

Cyrus Vance

Reports emerged in 2018 that Cyrus Vance, then-manhattan district attorney, commenced an investigation into the Trump Organization in the wake of Cohen’s plea. Vance’s office subpoenaed the Trump Organization and fought a court battle for Trump’s tax returns to investigate the alleged hush money payment. Vance secured an indictment against the Trump Organization and former CFO Allen Weisselberg, the latter later becoming a witness in the inquiry.

Alvin Bragg

Alvin Bragg took over as Manhattan District Attorney in November 2021. Bragg secured a guilty plea from Weisselberg and a guilty ruling from a New York judge against the two Trump Organization companies for tax fraud and other offences. He still maintained that the investigation into Trump was ongoing despite reports that it had stalled.

Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne

The resignation of prosecutors Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne fueled speculation that the investigation remained stalled. Pomerantz criticized Bragg for being too hesitant to target Trump for business crimes. Reports indicated that the investigation has returned focus to the hush money payments.

Robert Costello

Michael Cohen met with the Manhattan prosecutors and delivered grand jury testimony after his guilty plea. Before the guilty plea, Cohen consulted a lawyer named Robert Costello,

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