Prosecutors Disclose Recording of Trump and Witness in Criminal Case
In the ongoing Manhattan criminal case against former President Donald Trump, prosecutors have recorded a conversation between Trump and an undisclosed witness. The revelation came to light through an automatic discovery form made public by the prosecuting office on Friday.
The document outlines the charges and provides an overview of the evidence and will be presented during Trump’s preliminary hearing or trial. Trump’s legal team and media outlets, including CBS News, had been requesting the release of such a form since his arrest on April 4.
This unprecedented case marks the first instance in American history where a former president faces criminal charges. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to the falsification of business records, specifically pertaining to alleged payments made as part of a “hush money” scheme.
The document details 34 instances between February 14, 2017, and December 5, 2017, during which Trump is accused of falsifying records.
Within the section dedicated to electronic evidence, the prosecutor from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office indicated that they had provided the defense with a recording of a conversation between Trump and a witness. Additionally, prosecutors intend to disclose recordings of calls involving other witnesses.
As of now, there has been no immediate comment from Trump’s attorney regarding this development.
The completion of the form coincided with Trump’s appearance before New York Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday. Merchan granted permission for Trump to appear via live video feed, partly to alleviate the extensive security measures associated with his arraignment.
Merchan also reviewed a protective order, which prohibits Trump from publicizing or possessing most of the evidence that will be turned over. Trump is not permitted from discussing the case or sharing related material on social media unless it has already been made public.
Certain information, categorized as “Limited Dissemination Materials” by the prosecutors, will only be accessible to Trump in the presence of his legal counsel.
Merchan emphasized that violating the order could result in sanctions or fines, potentially leading to a finding of contempt.
The trial for this case is scheduled to commence on March 25, 2024.
